A life spent promoting the community he adores has earned Les Moulds an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) this Australia Day.
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Awarded for his service to the tourism industry, it was an honour that came completely out of the blue for the Inverell grandfather.
“It was the last thing I expected, my word,” he said.
“I’m very humbled to have received the award. It belongs to a lot of other people as well as me.”
Since first settling in Inverell with his wife Yvonne in the late 60s, Les has been a passionate community member.
“We came to Inverell to stay two years when we came to Inverell, and we’ve been there for over 50 years now. We’re nearly locals!” he said. He felt changing their retirement plans from the Gold Coast to Inverell was the best decision he and Yvonne had ever made.
“I believe it’s probably the best community in Australia, but I’m biased.”
Les served as the Inverell Shire Council tourism manager for 20 years and the regional co-ordinator of New England and North West tourism for 25 years. He was proud of how the region’s councils worked together to promote the area in that time.
For decades he was heavily involved in several tourism organisations including the NSW Council of Tourist Associations, Australian Institute of Tourism Officers, NSW Crown Holiday Parks Trust Community Advisory Committee and the Newell Highway Promotional Committee.
Locally, he helped organise the Great Inland Fishing Competition, the Sapphire City Festival and the Tom Roberts Festival. A former director, Les said bringing Opera in the Paddock to Inverell was one of “the real achievements” of his time in tourism, as it became an iconic event for the whole region.
The Pioneer Village remains a particular cause close to his heart, and Les has served in various capacities on the trust and board since 1984.
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“It’s been a very, very passionate thing, and I’ve been lucky enough to have some very special people around me that have helped me,” Les said of his tourism career.
He said Yvonne gave him more support than he could expect over the years, and that he couldn’t have done it all without Ann Clydsdale, who worked by his side at the Visitor’s Centre. He also thanked council general manager Paul Henry for his guidance.
Not content promoting the town, Les has remained an incredibly active member of the community. He served as a board member of Inverell District Hospital for 23 years, director of BEST Emplyment from 1991, was a member and steward of the Inverell and District Kennel Club for 20 years and the chairman of the local cultural group for seven years. He was also part of the North East National Parks and Wildlife Service advisory committee.
A life member of the local APEX Club, he served a term as president and district governor. Les then went on to be a vital member in Inverell East Rotary Club, where he also served as president, and was the chairman of the district’s Australia and New Zealand Youth Exchange Program for seven years.
He has always loved rugby league and was the secretary of Inverell and New England Minor Leagues for about 23 years.
The OAM is not the first time Les has been recognised for his work, as he was named Inverell’s Citizen of the Year in 1979, has received various tourism awards, a centenary medal for service to the community in 2001 and was awarded for spending 50 years as a Justice of the Peace in 2017.
Technically retired, Les can’t help but keep promoting Inverell as he travels to see his six grandchildren, and continues to do “tourism chores” representing New England North West and the Newell Highway at caravan and camping shows.
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