If anyone knows about Murray Bridge’s history, it’s Ken Wells OAM

The historian and long-time volunteer has been recognised with an Order of Australia Medal on the King’s Birthday 2023.

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Ken Wells poses with a scrapbook he kept during the 1956 flood. Photo: Peri Strathearn.

Ken Wells is not only a guardian of Murray Bridge’s history – he has been a highly active participant in it, too.

For that, on Monday, the King’s Birthday, he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal, or OAM.

Mr Wells has volunteered with the Murray Bridge Show Society since 1958, helped it move to the current showground in 1966, acted as president in 1969-70, and remains its patron and a life member.

The show society’s main pavilion is named after him.

He is a life member of the Murray Bridge Garden and Floral Art Club, having joined in 1962, served two stints as president and coordinated both the former Festival of Flowers and the club’s memorable Christmas pageant floats.

He can also boast of a long involvement with the local Scout group, the Uniting Church and Resthaven, among other organisations, and is a former captain of Murray Bridge Rowing Club.

His interest in history began around the time of the 1956 floods, of which he kept a record in a scrapbook of newspaper cuttings; he became a foundation member of the Murray Bridge and District Historical Society in 1966, served 13 years as secretary and has been president since 1985.

His good deeds had previously been recognised with a medal of merit for services to Scouting in 1990, Murray Bridge’s citizen of the year award in 2007 and a Paul Harris Fellowship from Mobilong Rotary Club in 2017.

Mr Wells said getting the phone call from Canberra in March had been a humbling experience – and that keeping it secret until Monday had been a challenge.

He found out about the award right before he went to spend three weeks with his son in Melbourne, and had since stayed tight-lipped at countless family catch-ups, church morning teas and retirement village gatherings.

“I think I might have to go back to church on Sunday and confess a few things,” he said with a laugh.

• Read more: Three Murray Bridge residents recognised on King’s Birthday honours list