LUNCHEON - 18TH FEBRUARY 2015

2015 Vocational Service Award

Awardee and Guest Speaker:  Nigel Dick AM

Chairperson:  Reg Smith

The Vocational Service Award commenced in the Presidential year of Sir John Jungwirth then Victoria’s most senior public servant. Sir John recognised the significant contributions made many outstanding Victorians thus this prestigious recognition was initiated. Each year much discussion ensues until the successful awardee is finally announced.

This year is certainly no exception. Nigel Dick AM has had an extraordinary career as a media executive, consultant and director for over 50 years of media companies, public companies and charities that include: Managing Director of Southern Cross communications, Chief Executive of the Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand, General Manager and Director of GTV television, Chairman of the RACV, Brick & Pipe Holdings, Honorary Founding Director and Chairman since 1981 of Odyssey House Victoria, Honorary Founding Director and Chairman of the National Drugs Partnership and the list goes on. He was conferred a Member of the Order of Australia for “Services to the media, in particular television, and the community” as well as a Master of Arts (RMIT University) plus a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Federation of Commercial Television Stations.

The greatest achievement of Nigel’s full and busy life is his love of family, his wonderful supporting wife, Bev and his beautiful children. Nigel Dick is a shining beacon of humility, doggedness, success under stress and the ability coupled with his humanity to never give up, never losing sight of the big picture enabling all who come into his life to be better human beings. He is an exemplar of Service before Self and we are all the better for knowing him. It is with the utmost certainty that Sir John Jungwirth would be very pleased with Nigel Dick’s successful nomination as the 2015 Vocational Service Awardee.  

Synopsis Of The Lunch

2014-2015 VOCATIONAL SERVICE AWARD Awarded to Nigel Dick AM Citation

The 2014-15 Rotary Club of Melbourne Vocational Service Award recognises the vocational service of Nigel Dick, Executive and Director of many prominent media organisations, founding Chairman and Director of Odyssey House, Victoria and Honorary founding director and Chairman for the National Drugs Partnership.

Nigel’s many years’ experience in senior roles in the Australian media was in itself distinguished and impressive.  The service for which he is receiving this award had a deeply personal beginning, when he discovered his second son’s addiction to heroin and he decided to do something about it.  Having visited Odyssey House in New South Wales in 1978, he deployed his legendary tenacity and lessons of experience in the television industry to form an Odyssey for Victoria committee. He attracted the active support of some of Victoria’s and the nation’s most eminent business, community, sporting and entertainment leaders.

In 1979 with the financial support of Victorian Premier, Rupert (Dick) Hamer’s Government, the disused seminary at Lower Plenty was acquired and, in July 1980, the doors to Odyssey House Victoria’s Residential Rehabilitation first opened.

After serving with distinction for more than 30 years Nigel recently retired as Chairman of the Odyssey House Board but remains one of its strongest supporters.  He became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1994 and received the Prime Minister’s Award in 2007 for his work in the drug and alcohol fields.

Nigel’s major contributions to assisting people afflicted with drug addiction, above and beyond his highly recognised media leadership career, exemplifies the Rotary ideal of service above self. He joins a distinguished body of men and women who have been previous recipients of this award.