Peter Collings’ years of volunteering has been recognised with an Australia Day honour
Australia Day was special for Mona Vale resident Peter Collings – at a gathering of friends he shared the news that he’d been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to the communities of Narrabeen and Mona Vale. “I’ve had a lot of people congratulate me,” Peter says. “I was very pleased.”
Peter, 74, has dedicated many years of volunteering to a number of clubs on the Beaches, including Mona Vale Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC), Narrabeen Amateur Swimming Club, Narrabeen Learn to Swim, Pittwater Football Club, and the Dad’s Army Golf Club.
He was working full-time as an electrical engineer, for which he travelled often, and had three young children when he first took up his extra roles. “I volunteered because my children were involved in those organisations. So there was the Mona Vale SLSC, the swimming club and the Pittwater RSL Football Club,” he says. When his children started playing soccer, he took on the role of coach at Pittwater RSL FC – a position he kept doing for 25 years, and also served as team manager, president and vice-president – and eventually earned life membership. “I coached my sons to start with and then I coached my daughter,” he says.
But his volunteering didn’t stop there – at the same time he was serving as Nipper age manager and doing life saver beach patrol at Mona Vale SLSC.
Peter Collings
“I enjoyed my time with the Mona Vale SLSC,” he says. “I’m still actively involved with the Narrabeen Amateur Swimming Club and I swim every Saturday. They have a 200m freestyle event, a 50m freestyle event plus stroke events and my grandson, who is nine, is currently swimming there now.”
During his years as president of the swimming club, Peter was instrumental in securing funding and coordinating the clubhouse renovation.
Despite now being retired, Peter still spends time volunteering, but can be found on a Monday at the Palm Beach Golf Course, with a social golf club group called Dad’s Army. “We’ve got about 70 members and I’m currently the secretary, treasurer and handicapper for that group,” he adds.
With an official ceremony organised by the Governor-General still to come, Peter is humble, yet happy with his honour.
He’s received messages of congratulations on the social media page of the Narrabeen Amateur Swimming Club.
A post from the Pittwater RSL FC summed up his volunteering: “Peter’s dedication, leadership and tireless commitment over 30-plus years have made a lasting impact across so many local organisations. A truly inspiring contribution to community sport and service,” the Pittwater RSL FC says. “Congratulations Peter – and thank you for everything you have given.”