The Rotary Club of Melbourne established the Vocational Service Award in 1964. It is presented annually to a person who has achieved a high level of excellence in their vocation and through such vocation has rendered outstanding service to the community.
Generally, nominations for this award are made by members of the Rotary Club of Melbourne. However, if you are not a member of the Club but believe that you can recommend an appropriate candidate, please contact the Club's office. This will be considered by the Club’s Vocational Service Committee.
The following criteria are considered when deciding the successful recipient:
This award acknowledges the importance and value of vocation in Rotary. It is given to a resident of Victoria who has not only achieved excellence in their vocation but used those skills to go above and beyond to make a significant contribution to the community. The candidate must be prepared to be available to deliver a keynote address to the Club following the presentation of the award.
Nominations are invited before 31 July 2024 and forwarded to Rotary Club of Melbourne by email:@rotarymelbourne
The candidate must be prepared to be available to deliver a keynote address to the Club following the presentation of the award on 16 October 2024.
The Rotary Melbourne Vocational Service Award was born out of a 1963 proposal by committee chairman Harry Simpson. Inspired by similar awards in Sydney and Adelaide, Simpson suggested honoring individuals, not necessarily Rotarians, who exemplify service to the community through their professions. The club embraced this idea, aiming to recognize meaningful vocational contributions without regard to fame or other community achievements. In 1964, Rotary Melbourne presented its first Vocational Service Award to O.J. Nilsen, a pioneering figure in both broadcasting and civic life. As Chairman of O.J. Nilsen Australia Pty Ltd, Nilsen played a crucial role in the early days of Victorian radio, securing the state’s first commercial broadcasting licence and becoming known as the “father of radio in Victoria.” His work transformed radio into a vital public resource, bringing entertainment and news into homes across Melbourne. Nilsen’s commitment to community went beyond broadcasting. For 30 years, he served on the Melbourne City Council and held office as Lord Mayor from 1951 to 1952. His contributions, both on the air and in public service, left a lasting impact on Melbourne, embodying Rotary’s ideal of using one's profession to serve society. In 1979, Major Dawn Vale of the Salvation Army was our first female recipient of the Vocational Service Award, embodying the very essence of selfless service. As matron of The Salvation Army East Camberwell Children’s Home, Major Vale provided not only care but also a sense of belonging and joy to the children who arrived at the home in difficult circumstances. Her kindness and guidance transformed the lives of countless young people, helping them feel valued and supported during a vulnerable time. Major Vale’s compassion extended beyond her official duties, as she took children on family holidays, encouraged their interests, and taught them life lessons in integrity and happiness. Her influence left a lasting legacy of hope, dignity, and optimism, representing the Rotary ideal of “Service Above Self” in every way. Over the years, awardees have been celebrated at special luncheon ceremonies often attended by the Governor of Victoria. 1964 Rtn. Oliver J. Neilson 1965 Mr Malcolm S Moore 1966 Sir William C D Upjohn 1967 Sir Alexander Fitzgerald 1968 Rtn. The Very Rev. A. C. Watson 1969 Sir Samuel Wadham 1970 Dr Phillip Law 1971 Mr Frank Fitzpatrick 1972 Rtn. Dr John Glyn White 1973 Dr Ronald Downes 1974 Rtn. Dr J E K Galbraith 1975 Dr Lisbeth Brodribb 1976 Mr Henry Powell 1977 Sir Charles McGrath 1978 Rtn Sir John Reid 1979 Major Dawn Vale (Salvation Army) 1980 Dr John Maloney 1981 Prof Lawrence McCredie 1982 Mr Hector Crawford 1983 Rtn Rev Arthur Preston 1984 Mr S I Miller 1985 Rtn Geo. D Thompson 1986 Prof Graeme Clark 1987 Sir John Holland 1988 Sir James Gobbo 1989 Sir Arvi Parbo 1990 Mr Richard Divall 1991 Mr Bernard O'Brien 1992 Mr John Ralph 1993 Rtn Dr George Tippett 1994 Prof David Pennington 1995 Prof Derek Tribe 1996 Rtn Dr Margaret Leggatt 1997 Ms Maudie Palmer 1998 Dr John Olver 1999 Dr Gordon Donaldson 2000 Mr Bruce Parker 2001 Mr John Landy 2002 Ms Lyndsey Cattermole 2003 Ms Susan Barton 2004 Prof Peter Doherty 2005 Dr Frances McNab 2006 Prof Alan Trounson 2007 Mr Trevor Green 2008 Prof Jeffrey Rosenfeld 2009 Prof Glyn Davis 2010 Dr Neville White 2011 Mr Bryan Lipmann AM 2012 Ms Stephanie Alexander OAM 2013 Dr Mukesh C Haikerwal AO 2014 Ms Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO 2015 Mr Nigel Dick AM 2015-16 Mr Gareth T A Andrews 2016-17 Dr Catherine Crock AM 2017-18 Dr Bronwyn King 2018-19 Mr Edward Tudor 2019-20 Dr Joe Tucci 2020-21 Prof Sharon Lewin AO 2021-22 Prof John McNeil AO 2022-23 Mr Robert Pradolin 2023-24 Dr Sandro Demaio 2024-25 Ms Simone Carson AM To make a nomination for the award, click here:History of the Vocational Service Award
History of the Award
Past Recipients​
