Jervois’ Russell Nuske awarded OAM for services to the community
A major contributor to the Murray Bridge district has been recognised on the Queen’s Birthday honours list for 2022.
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A prominent Jervois citizen has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his service to the community.
Russell Nuske made the Queen’s Birthday honours list on Monday after spending the past 60 years volunteering as a paramedic, church elder, committee member and justice of the peace, among other roles.
He became a St John Ambulance volunteer at Millicent in 1962, and was later a member of the organisation’s branches at Coonalpyn, Bordertown and Tailem Bend, including a 26-year stint as a divisional superintendent.
He has also been a member of the Murray Bridge hospital’s health advisory council since 2008.
In recent years he has been heavily involved in efforts to refurbish the Jervois Hall, having served as president of its management committee.
He was groundskeeper at Jervois Primary School for 10 years, too.
The Royal Association of Justices of South Australia counts him as a life member, since he has been a justice of the peace since 1988; and he has volunteered as a visiting inspector with the Department of Correctional Services since 1999.
Aside from all that, he has been involved with the Murray Bridge Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Spina Bifida Association and Murray Bridge and District Table Tennis Association, among other organisations.
Still, Mr Nuske remained modest about his achievements.
“I’d just like to thank everybody who has appreciated the things I’ve done,” he told Murray Bridge News.
“I’ve enjoyed it all.”
In his professional life, Mr Nuske had a 36-year career with the Engineering and Water Supply Department, now SA Water; and spent another 20 years as a wedding celebrant and carer.
