LEONGATHA’S Cyril Payne is honoured to be named a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to the community through a range of roles, with that service continuing as he gets set for his 88th year of life.
Cyril was again busy on Thursday, acting as a Justice of the Peace at the Leongatha RSL Annexe, helping community members who needed forms verified or signed.
His motivation for continuing that role is the same as that which has driven all his community involvement.
“Everything I’ve done, I’ve done because I like meeting people,” Cyril said.
Raised as a Salvo in Britain, he is still strongly committed to Christianity and its values as the chaplain of Leongatha RSL.
Along with his wife Rosemary, Cyril was a divisional envoy for The Salvation Army from the mid 1990s until 2005, serving Emerald and Sale, and also worked as a preacher for the Uniting Church from 2003 until a couple of years ago.
Respect, commitment and care are the values that draw Cyril to Christianity, and he is sad to see many schools move away from religious instruction, whether that be Christianity or other religions.
Brass music has been a huge part of Cyril’s life and he only gave up playing last Christmas after more than 80 years of involvement.
He was adept with all brass instruments, principally cornet and trombone, but spent much of his time conducting brass bands.
Cyril took charge of famous brass bands in the United Kingdom, Creswell Colliery, Wingate Grange Colliery and Crookhall Colliery.
He and Rosemary moved to Australia in 1980 when Cyril was offered a teaching position at Mentone Boys Grammar School, and he became conductor of the highly regarded Malvern Municipal Band.
While much of his focus was on conducting, Cyril continued to find opportunities to play with Salvation Army bands.
During the period when he and Rosemary lived in Moe, he founded the RSL Brass Ensemble in the year 2000.
That sprang out of his role as bugler for the local RSL.
Cyril had long had links with the RSL through his music, but it was in Moe that he became a member of the organisation, having served with the Royal Air Force in Britain.
His involvement with the RSL endured when he and Rosemary moved to Drouin and on to Leongatha.
Having been in Leongatha for six years, Cyril only stepped away from the local RSL committee at the last AGM.
His time working at the BBC gave Cyril a love for radio, something he combined with his passion for Christianity after moving to Australia.
That started with Gippsland FM, with Cyril presenting a Christian program that included playing hymns and chatting to people about their love of particular hymns as well as delivering Christian messages.
Such was the show’s popularity, episodes were produced from 1997 until 2012.
Cyril also took to the airwaves through Life FM, being a presenter there from 2010 until 2014.
His generous Christian spirit has been a comfort to many, including some who were in their last moments of life and called on Cyril to be with them.
Cyril continues to play an active part in Anzac Day Services and other commemorative events at the Leongatha Memorial Hall.
His reaction to being named to receive the OAM was similar to most who are honoured for their community involvement.
“It’s a great privilege and a surprise,” Cyril said, adding that it wasn’t something he sought.
“I just enjoy doing what I do,” Cyril said of the efforts for which he has been recognised.