Adrian Elder OAM

Mr Adrian Francis Elder was awarded the Order of Australia Medal on 14 June for service to the Community of Bridgetown.

How does Adrian feel about the award, “Rather Chuffed.”

Adrian felt his extended family brothers, the Rogersons, where up to something, Bob got the nomination underway, but sadly passed on and his brother Alan made sure the nomination was completed with the assistance of Myra Agnew.

Initially they were asking questions about the ‘Cavalcade of Transport’ parade which Adrian had organized.

The parade took place on Saturday 6th October 2018 in conjunction with Bridgetown’s Sesquicentennial Year, Bridgetown’s 150th year since being gazetted as a town, a year to celebrate.

It was a day many locals and visitors to our town will remember, getting to witness so many different modes of transport which had been used throughout the ages.

The past 150 years were showcased with a parade from the bridge, through Hampton Street then up to the showgrounds where people were able to ‘get up close and personal’ to inspect the vehicles.

The parade was led by the 10th Light Horse Enactment Group then following came vintage cars, tractors, motor bikes, emergency service vehicles, heavy haulage vehicles and even a caravan and boat.

“I felt I mostly only arranged the cavalcade of transport, I put the word out among the businesses and with help of the Vintage Car Club I was amazed by the number and variety of vehicles that gathered at the River Park to take place in the parade, we even had four ambulances of different ages.” Adrian reflected.

Adrian has also served our community in other ways. Through his efforts he was made a life member of the Bridgetown Repertory Club and is a Councillor of the Bridgetown Agricultural Society.

Adrian is a former President, District-Governor and Life Member of the Bridgetown Apex Club and a past member of Bridgetown Hospital Board.

He was Bridgetown-Greenbushes Citizen of the year in 2014 and he has been a Justice of the Peace for 31 years.

Adrian has another claim to fame, by being the one and only Red Cross Quiz master in Bridgetown, a job he has held since its inception, thirty years ago. He did go on to explain “My mother got me that job”.

“We used to hold the Red Cross Quiz Night fundraiser in March, but Covid-19 changed that in 2020. So, we moved it to August in that year, it was very successful so we have decided to hold it in August this year, so look out for it, come and join in the fun.”

Well, there is only one more comment I can say about Adrian Elder being awarded an Order of Australia Medal, and that is ‘Adrian is a worthy recipient’.