Pacific solar pioneer, charitable Aussies earn gongs
Completing university in the early 1980s, Geoff Stapleton had no way of predicting how vital his chosen expertise in solar energy would be.
"The industry was pretty well non-existent back then," he told AAP.
Fast forward four decades, and Mr Stapleton can look back on a career supporting the rollout of renewable energy in Australia and further abroad, including the Pacific.
As of Monday, he will also add an AO after his name, an Officer of the Order of Australia appointed for distinguished service to engineering in the renewable and sustainable energy sector, and to training and development.
Mr Stapleton, 66, has been hands on with his Pacific work, personally training many workers across the blue continent, as well as developing industry standards.
The rewards are clear: bringing power sources to many remote communities for the first time, allowing connectivity, business growth, poverty relief, and access to health.
"To them it's a no brainer, solar is cheaper than diesel," he said.
"Seeing people out there installing systems, it's very satisfying.
"Just look at Vanuatu: there's no more kerosene lights, it's all solar lanterns and that's a major heath saving."
He isn't done, and is realising a dream of several decades, this year breaking ground to build a regional training centre for renewable workers in Suva, alongside the University of the South Pacific's TAFE campus.
Mr Stapleton is one of a number of Australians given King's Birthday Honours for their efforts to support their nation's closest neighbours in the Pacific.
Dennis Perry, the co-founder of Papua New Guinea-based charity Operation Life, is another, awarded a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia for his decades of volunteer work.
Mr Perry, 77, said he was moved to begin his education and poverty alleviation-focused charity after seeing a family burrowing in rubbish dump for food in Tonga.
"You talk as a kid about being a good Samaritan ... that motivated me when I saw a great need to do something about it," he told AAP.
"Sitting in a church wasn't good enough. I thought God expected more than that."
Operation Life has expanded from its Port Moresby base, where it offers poverty alleviation, an orphanage and a school, into the Central Province, with a rapidly expanding school in Kivori Poe.
Enrolment is up about 300, with many receiving an education including how to grow crops.
"When they leave our school they will have not only life skills but hope and dignity," Mr Perry said.
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