Australia’s former Ambassador to Nepal, a nursing unit manager and a regional training consultant have been awarded the Order of Australia medal this year, including for their work in Nepal.
Glenn White, who served as Australia’s Ambassador to Nepal for four years from 2013, was recognized for his work to improve bilateral relations between the two countries.
He also played an important role in coordinating Australia’s support after the 2015 earthquake in Nepal.
Another Australian who was also in Nepal during the earthquake is New South Wales resident Mary Brell.
Ms Brell heads a regional training and education consultancy firm in the city of Orange and has been to Nepal 15 times.
When the earthquake hit the country, she had just finished a project and was in Kathmandu.
Speaking to SBS Nepali, she said, “after the earthquake, I came back home and raised some money and now we’ve rebuilt some schools and a community hall.”
Ms Brell was also awarded the Order of Australia medal for her service to the community.
Her first trip to Nepal was in 2011 to help train local teachers but since then she has lead a team of health workers, dentists, builders and physiotherapists to the country.
The Australia Day recognition, she says, has spurred her to keep going.
By October this year, Ms Brell plans to start agricultural projects to improve farming techniques in Nepal.
The late Ms Glenys Elizabeth Chapman was also recognized in the Australia Day honours for her service to nursing and international outreach programs.
Ms Chapman worked as a nursing unit manager at Sydney Adventist Hospital.
Her first visit to Nepal was in 1996 when she volunteered for an organization called Open Heart International.
Her sister Helen Caldwell says, “Since her first visit she grew to love Nepal and Nepali people”.
Glenys Chapman continued to be an active volunteer and travelled to Nepal 23 times for various projects until her passing in May 2017.
“Even in Australia, she volunteered hundreds of hours each year for project planning and fundraised and donated over $75,000”, says Helen.
“Glenys also worked to improve education for children in Nepal and other upgrades to facilities like water tanks and toilets.”
She continued to travel to Nepal even when unwell and her last visit to the country took place just a month before her passing.
What would receiving the Order of Australia medal mean for Glenys Chapman?
“Glenys was a very humble and gracious person. She never did it for the accolade”.
“She would be honoured and we are all proud of her work”, says sister Helen Caldwell.
Associate Professor Julian Lockhart Rait from Victoria also received the OAM for service to ophthalmology and to the development of overseas aid.
Professor Rait worked in Nepal’s Tilganga Eye Hospital from 2006 until 2011.
