Giving back to the community has been a motto and way of life for John Arthur and it is now something for which he has been formally recognised, reports Kairos Catholic Journal, in a story published on the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne website. 

John has been awarded an Order of Australia medal in recognition of his continuing service to Catholic religious congregations and Indigenous education. He was presented with the medal, along with other 2012 Australia Days honours recipients, by the Governor of Victoria, the Honourable Alex Chernov AC, QC, at Government House on 20 April.

John worked in finance with Rio Tinto for 20 years. He is also a director of his family's transport business, L Arthur, which is now in its fourth generation of operation. The award, however, recognises his work with religious congregations around Australia—verging on 30 years now—and his work with Aboriginal Catholic Ministry's Opening the Doors Foundation.

John said community service had always played an important role in his life. "I have always had connections with various religious congregations throughout my life," he said.

"I attended Christian Brothers College Parade in East Melbourne, then I was a resident at Newman College while studying Law/Commerce at Melbourne University. Our sons attended Xavier, which connected us to the Jesuits, and our daughter attended Loreto Mandeville Hall.

"I had always been involved in community service but I would say things really took off with the Loreto Sisters—I was invited onto the advisory board at Loreto Mandeville Hall then appointed inaugural chairman of the school council they were setting up as part of the governance structure in the late 1980s. I remained in that position until about 1996."

John went on to be a member and chairman of a finance committee set up for the Loreto Australian province in 1998 and is still chairman. "I've been associated with the Loreto Sisters alone for almost 30 years," he said.

FULL STORY 30 years of giving back (CAM)