Sculptor Silvio Apponyi awarded OAM in Queen's Birthday honours list

A sculptor created one of Murray Bridge best-known artworks has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Queen's Birthday honours list.

Silvio Apponyi, of Balhannah, is one of Australia's most famous sculptors, with works depicting native species and natural history dotted across the nation.

They include Ripples, a limestone and granite piece next to Riverscape Food and Wine at Sturt Reserve; and a goanna bird bath at Monarto Safari Park.

His other works include a bronze whale tail at Victor Harbor, a stone sea lion on Granite Island, a bronze wedge-tailed eagle at the Keswick railway station and a 2.6 by four-metre granite piece on Adelaide's River Torrens which commemorates Meals on Wheels.

Apponyi had previously been honoured as South Australia's Senior Australian of the Year in 2018.

It has been several years since any Murray Bridge resident has been recognised in the general section of either the Queen's Birthday or Australia Day honours lists.

However, several residents of Mannum and Meningie have received OAMs over the past decade, and two officers at Mobilong Prison have received the Australian Corrections Medal since its creation in 2018.

Anyone can nominate any Australian for an award in the Order of Australia.

Make a nomination: www.gg.gov.au.

Photo: National Australia Day Council.