A legacy of long service

By Kath Gannaway
ALEXANDER Lillie has an appointment at Government House later this year, thanks to a couple of mates who ‘dobbed’ him in for an Australia Day award.
Lex, as he prefers to be called, is now Lex Lillie OAM.
Mr Lillie was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Australia Day 2008 honours list announced on Saturday.
The award recognises almost 60 years’ service to the communities of Mt Evelyn and Lilydale through his work with various ex-service, local government and community service organisations.
Mr Lillie is best known in the Yarra Valley for his work since 1989 with the Yarra Valley Group of Melbourne Legacy.
He is the current adviser the Group Legacy Widow’s Clubs of Lilydale and Healesville and the Widow’s Group Club.
Among many other contributions made over the decades are 12 years as a councillor with the Shire of Lillydale, chairman of the Lilydale Sewerage Authority, various roles with the Lilydale and District Hospital over 30 years including manager from 1973 to 1978, a member of the board of management and parishioner with Lilydale-Mount Evelyn Presbyterian Church, founding member of the Probus Club of Lilydale, life member of the Lilydale Bowling Club and a very active member of the Lilydale and Mt Evelyn RSL sub-branches.
Mr Lillie said his dedication to community service came from a philosophy of giving back.
“I reckon we owe a debt to society,” he said.
“A lot of people don’t feel that way, I know, but it’s something I firmly believe,” he said resolutely.
Mr Lillie said he believed Legacy still had a vital role to play in looking after the widows of ex-servicemen but nominated his achievements as a member of the Lilydale Sewerage Authority as his most rewarding involvement.
“I have gained a lot of satisfaction out of all the things I have been involved in but one of the most rewarding was getting sewerage for the area,” he said.
Mr Lillie is looking forward to receiving his award at Government House in a few months’ time but says he is was just lucky to be nominated.
“I feel there are lots of people out there deserving of recognition but I have had the good fortune to have someone nominate me,” he said.