Ron Fenton receives posthumous Order of Australia medal

It’s on this day we celebrate the awarding of the Order of Australia Medal to the late Ron Fenton, one of Victoria’s most respected veterans.

Ron Fenton will today receive the Order Of Australia medal, for his service to the community through mental health advocacy – albeit posthumously.

Ron’s eldest son Mark Williams will be receiving the medal on his behalf during an Investiture Ceremony, held at Government House.

Ron, who passed away in April following a long battle with cancer, is one of three Wyndham residents to be awarded a medal of the Order of Australia in this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours list.

Ron’s memory continues to be honoured across Victoria, including a dedicated Facebook memoriam group with 332 members.

He was one of the most downloaded episodes of Rochelle Jackson’s ‘The Crime Couch’ during 2021. It was only three and half weeks after the interview that Ron passed away.

Stuart Grimley, member for Western Victoria and State Leader of Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party, says Ron was a man who “epitomised what it means to be an advocate”.

“He suffered many trials and tribulations through his life that ultimately led him down a path that saw him help many people,” he says.

“His advocacy to use dogs as a means to assist people with post-traumatic stress injury and other mental injuries will be his lasting legacy.

I was so very proud to see that Ron was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. Ron knew of this before he passed, and knowing him, he would have been very proud and extremely humbled. It is hard to think of someone more deserving of this award.”

The ceremonies will be livestreamed using the Office of the Governor YouTube channel, and are available for viewing here.