Grand Commander Paul Borg OSJ attended a civic reception at the Town Hall, as part of his travels from Malta to Australia to meet order members and officiate at two investitures. 

The Order of Saint John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller is the oldest continuous order in the world with a history dating back to Jerusalem in 1070. Members are dedicated to providing charitable support to those in need. 

Membership to the order is by invitation only to people who have been identified as a strong contributor to local, regional, national or international communities, are of Christian faith and deserving of acknowledgement. 

Ten people in Ballarat are members of the order. 

Peter Morey OSJ has been a member for two years. He was recognised for his work in the community with BLOC Music Theatre and the Worldskills competition. 

He said the order brought together a ‘fantastic’ group of people. 

“There are people and leaders from all walks of life who lived a life of charitable work.”

Fellow members of the Ballarat Founding Group have serviced the Ballarat community through the Royal South Street Society, Berry Street, Organs of the Goldfields and Zonta.

One member, Phill Roberts OAM, has written 16 books on Ballarat’s history, and has a long list of ways he has volunteered in the community, including work with the Ballarat Mechanics Institute and Avenue of Honour Committee. 

Mr Borg was welcomed to Ballarat by the members and Ballarat mayor Samantha McIntosh at the civic reception. 

“The first thing I did is thank the members for what they are doing in the order, and I asked them to keep it up,” Mr Borg said. 

“Without the work of volunteers our communities would not thrive.”

Mr Paul Borg OSJ will tour Ballarat on Wednesday as part of his two-day visit. 

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