JUNE 9, 2020 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
Champs honoured
Pandemic recovery fund
By Jessica Micallef Not many people label a defeat as one of their greatest achievements. But Mario Magris has shown how a defeat can shape anyone’s life. he Sunbury resident has been appointed an oicer of the Order of Australia in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his dedication to the boxing industry. Mr Magris, 76, said it was a great honour to receive the Order of Australia medal. “I’m still on cloud nine to be receiving an award like this for something that I love very much,” he said. Mr Magris began his career as a boxer in 1957 at 13-years-old. He had his irst ight as an amateur boxer in 1958 in Ringwood before he turned professional in 1964. he boxing enthusiast said a trip to the cinema with his mum inspired him to one day put the boxing gloves on. “She took me to the ilms in 1947 to watch Body and Soul,” he said. “It’s a story about a boxer and there was something about that ilm. Since then I always wanted to be a boxer and I never stopped wanting to be one.” Mr Magris travelled all over Australia, participating in 78 ights before he retired in 1970 at the young age of 25. “I came down with a very rare blood disorder … it was chronic anemia, it’s a weakness in the blood,” he said. Mr Magris was inducted into the Victorian Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004. But he says his greatest achievement of all was his three defeats to Australian boxing champion Lionel Rose. “I still remember how close the ights were,” he said. “He became a world champion. He beat me three times. To be able to go the distance in two very close decisions – people still remember those ights.” Riddells Creek’s Susan Mayes was made a member in the general division of the Order of Australia for her physiotherapy service and dedication at he Australian Ballet spanning nearly 25 years. “I came from a ballet background, I studied dance well into my 20s and I experienced quite a few injuries and I started to discover physio. “Once I inished my physio, I was really quite driven to try and look ater dancers’ health.” Ms Mayes is the director of artistic health and the principal physiotherapist at he
Main: Mario Magris has been honoured for his service to boxing. (Damjan Janevski) 209433_02 Above: Susan Mayes, Ronald Alexander and Julien O’Connell. (Pictures: Supplied)
Australian Ballet and specialises in foot, ankle and hip injuries. Mount Macedon resident Ronald Alexander has also been awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his work in the Strathieldsaye shire, now known as the City of Greater Bendigo. “I got on council in 1972 [and] I served there for 20 years,” he said. Gisborne’s Julien O’Connell has been made an oicer in the general division if the order of Australia for his involvement in tertiary education and community health.
He has been Australian Catholic University’s pro-chancellor since 2015 and has dedicated many years to Victoria’s health sector, including chairing the Mercy Health Foundation and Mercy Health Australia. “I have been engaged with work that is beneicial in society at large, be it across hospitals, aged care, disability and the university life,”he said. Mr O’Connell was also appointed a member of the Order of Australia in 2013.
A $1.1 million recovery fund to support the community and local businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic has been proposed in the Macedon Ranges council 2020-21 drat budget. he fund is aimed at helping the community and local businesses recover from the pandemic and includes additional funding for the council’s existing grant programs, the waiver of footpath permit renewals for businesses with current permits, support for a business phone counselling service, backing for programs supporting volunteers and vulnerable people, and a deferral of late fees on overdue animal registrations until September 30. he council’s chief executive Margot Stork said each year the council aimed to produce a balanced budget. She said the council’s annual income for 2020-21 was about $100 million. “he drat budget includes $23.6 million in capital works projects … which will provide a much-needed boost for the local economy and to maintain and create jobs,” she said. Projects proposed for funding include a new Kyneton kindergarten, stage two of the Romsey Ecotherapy Park, netball courts in Woodend, oval lighting at Lanceield Park, the Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Precinct in New Gisborne, an upgrade to the playing surface at the Barkly Square Field in Kyneton, an increase in building renewal works at community facilities and footpath improvement programs across the municipality. he drat budget also proposes a two per cent rate rise, in line with the state-imposed rate cap and a ive per cent increase to the council’s kerbside collection charges due to changes in the recycling industry. Macedon Ranges mayor Janet Pearce encouraged residents to provide feedback on the drat budget. Submission close on Friday, June 30. Details: mrsc.vic.gov.au/yoursay Jessica Micallef
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