Leslie ‘Les’ Harrison has received his fair share of honours in his time.

But when he received a letter in the mail telling him he was going to receive the Order of Australia Medal, for services to the communities of Tungamah and Cobram, the 75-year-old felt humbled — and a little shocked.

“I’m over the moon about it. I feel there are a lot of people who deserve it more, so I’m very chuffed,” Les said.

“When the mail came, I thought, I hope this is not a scam. And then I thought, ‘Yeah, that’s lovely that someone should nominate me.’”

He and his wife moved to Tungamah for a three-year term, but ended up staying for at least 20 years more.

Over that time, he has racked up a solid resume of community service to Tungamah and Cobram.

“I’m most proud in my life of my family, my wife and kids and grandkids because I think I’ve got a good family, and I’m very proud of that,” he said.

“And I’m very proud of the fact that I played a lot of cricket, and I’m very proud of the fact that I played it in the right spirit.”

His time as governor of Lions District 201V6 during 2008-09 is also one of Les’s proudest achievements.

“I enjoy my work in Lions because it makes a difference to other people who need help, not just locally, but anywhere in the world. The Lions is a wonderful organisation,” Les said.

“I’m also proud of the kids I taught because some of those kids had hard lives, but we managed to steer them on the right path and give them the skills and the value of hard work.

“I think that’s more important than a lot of results you get in tests. I think it’s the work ethic you inculcate into young people — that if you work hard, you will be successful in life.”

To mention just a few of the community initiatives Les has involved himself in: principal of Tungamah Primary School from 1991 to 2005, part-time teacher at the Cobram Special Development School (now the Cobram & District Specialist School) and a foundation member of the Tungamah Leo Club.

“I’ve always had a leaning towards youth, and giving them opportunity,” Les said.

To this day, he’s still involved with the Leo Club of Cobram on the Murray, based out of the Cobram Specialist School.

Outside his work as an educator and leader for young people, Les has racked up an impressive career in country sport, having served as president of the Tungamah Cricket Club and coach and trainer at the Tungamah Football Netball Club for 20 years.

“I love my cricket. I’ve probably played over a thousand games of cricket in my life, so that gives an indication of how much I enjoy my cricket,” he said.

He went to competitive cycling at the age of 53, when he raced many times with the Cobram Barooga Cycling Club.

Everywhere he went, Les has found people to look up to. With a father who worked on railways across the country, he was exposed early on to the merits of hard work and effort.

“I’ve been lucky to have had great role models right through,” he said.

Les continues his love of reading, which he attributes to his Year 3-6 teacher, Jim Nance.

“That’s something I can’t thank him enough for because reading is so important. And even today, I still like to pick up a book,” Les said.

Despite what many might expect, a schoolteacher wasn’t always the only career Les had in mind.

“To be quite honest, when I was a little kid, I had three careers in mind,” he said.

“First, a schoolteacher. I loved radio, so being a radio announcer really appealed to me too.”

Today, in his spare time, Les volunteers as a presenter on OneFM Community Radio Shepparton.

“So I got to do two out of two there, but I didn’t get the third one, which was to be a steam train driver,” he said.

“I just loved the people who worked on the railways. They were hard workers, they were really hard workers, and great people.”

He had a piece of advice for young people seeking to make a difference in the world today.

“Have a dream of what you want to be. And go for it,” he said.

“Don’t let anyone stand in your way. Just do your very best.”

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Thursday, 5th June 2025

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