General News
16 February, 2023
OAM honour bestowed
CAMPERDOWN stalwart James ‘Jim’ Wilson has been posthumously honoured with the Order of Australia Medal (OAM).
CAMPERDOWN stalwart James ‘Jim’ Wilson has been posthumously honoured with the Order of Australia Medal (OAM).
Mr Wilson, who died in June last year, received the honour for his work within the community.
His wife of 57 years, Dianne Wilson, said he would have been elated with the honour.
“We’re very happy for him,” she said.
“I think it was well deserved.”
An avid historian, Mr Wilson’s collection of over 10,000 historical items was often used across various national exhibitions and displays for charity fundraisers.
Mr Wilson was a member of over 30 different historical societies, including the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, and serving as a committee member of the Corangamite branch of the National Trust.
He was also a founding member and previous president of the Camperdown and District Historical Society.
Alongside his passion for sharing local history, Mr Wilson was also passionate about the environment.
His love for the environment began at an early age on his family’s farm.
“I think most farmers have a passion for the environment,” Mrs Wilson said.
“He planted masses of trees to give the sheep and cattle shelter from the rain and sun alike.”
Mrs Wilson campaigned for quarries at Mount Sugarloaf and Mount Elephant to be quashed, protecting them from environmental destruction.
It was his influence which allowed the National Trust to purchase Mount Sugarloaf and rehabilitate its environment, including tree-planting within the reserve.
“With the help of the National Trust they were able to stop the bulldozing, with a group of other likeminded people, and today it is still standing,” Mrs Wilson said.
“After they managed to save the mount, with the help of Sir Chester Manifold, another Camperdown identity, they’ve planted a lot of trees in the area which had been ruined.
“I think it looks terrific today.”
Mr Wilson also created an environment at a property in Skipton to help protect the bandicoots living in the area, which are now successfully breeding and the population growing.
He was also captain at the Bookaar Fire Brigade, where he worked to protect the environment he loved.
His humble beginnings in agriculture never faltered, and he cultivated a successful farming career throughout his life despite calls from his financial advisors to sell the family farm.
Mr Wilson remained steadfast and managed to run a successful cropping, beef and sheep operation.
Today, his son Andrew now manages the family farm.
“It’s wonderful to still have the property in the family,” Mrs Wilson said.
“He was very proud.”
Mr Wilson also judged Angus cattle, often working at both nationally and internationally as well as judging schools to train future cattle judges.
Mrs Wilson said he was often a prankster, and loved dressing up for parties.
“He loved it,” she said.
“One of his friends took out a death notice which said he was insatiably curious, interested and interesting, a legend in his own right; his encyclopaedic knowledge was boundless, and Jim had a wonderful sense of humour and he is greatly missed by his many friends.
“It was a lovely sentiment.”
Mr Wilson’s family was proud of his achievements, and feel that the award was well-deserved.
“Jim was very keen on history, particularly the history of western Victoria,” Mrs Wilson said.
“It’s a wonder he had time to farm.
Mr Wilson is survived by his wife, their four children Lisa Kebbell, Andrew, Skye and Tim Wilson, and their 11 grandchildren.
“I think his grandchildren are very proud of their grandfather,” Mrs Wilson said.
“I think his legacy will help them understand how important the things he loved are.
“I hope people will continue to be involved in the environment.”