The HPG Committee was delighted to learn that Rob Bagnall, a long-serving Committee member, was awarded an Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours List.
Rob retired from the Committee at the 2020 HPG AGM, when President Jill L’Estrange acknowledged his significant contribution to the preservation of Trust lands. In reviewing his community activities at that time, HPG was humbled by the breadth and depth of his involvement over many decades. His OAM is indeed well-deserved – all this was undertaken at weekends and at night, independent of his busy legal career.
His leadership roles have included being Captain and President of Balmoral Beach Club, Little Athletics Event Manager, President of the Montessori School North Sydney and local Church warden.
Rob is a man of integrity and principle, and he used his ability and intellect to good effect in many campaigns over the years. These have included the struggle to preserve local schools from closure, pro-bono contribution as a senior case worker with Amnesty International giving a voice to those who had none, Chairman of Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal Northern Zone, working in the campaign Saving Mosman From Forced Amalgamation, helping elect the current Mosman mayor and more.
However most importantly for all the people of Australia, he joined the Headland Preservation Group Committee in 2013 and brought his experience in legal, commercial and company secretarial roles in leading Australian institutions to HPG. His work in the struggle to prevent the takeover of public land by the private aged care proposal was invaluable, in particular his guidance in working with the NSW Ombudsman, Environmental Defenders Office and our defending barrister.
The HPG Committee thanks Rob for his expertise, persistence, balanced and objective views and congratulates him on behalf of all HPG members and supporters.