ANDREW Suggett’s diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease 13 years ago would be fair reason to put his extra curricular commitments aside.
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Instead the Warrnambool man retired from his work and dedicated free time to volunteering for a Parkinson’s Support Group, later becoming the director of Parkinson’s Victoria.
It is for this service to the Warrnambool community, as well as many others, that Mr Suggett will be honoured with an Order of Australia today.
“I don’t do anything I don’t enjoy doing,” he told The Standard. “I got onto that Parkinson’s board because I wanted to make sure country people had bit of a voice on it.
“I must admit my wife Betty has given wonderful support for me getting involved over the years.” Mr Suggett has also worked tirelessly as a manager at Warrnambool Football Club, Cobden Golf Club, a member and past president of Warrnambool and District Historical Society and as a member and former president of the Rotary Club of Warrnambool.
For the past four years he has chaired the Warrnambool Rotary House project committee, which provides emergency accommodation for families and carers of visiting medical patients. Mr Suggett described his Queen’s Birthday Honour as “staggering”.
j.pech@fairfaxmedia.com.au
For stories on other south-west recipients, click the links below.