At home in the Adelaide Hills, Silvio Apponyi's work fills every corner of his shed-cum-studio.
COVID-19 has slowed his work, but wood shavings and half-finished sculptures still crowd every surface.
With years of experience creating bronze sculptures, Mr Apponyi is taking home a piece for himself, after being awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in this year's Queen's Birthday list.
While Mr Apponyi is thrilled with the honour, he said it is not what drives him.
"I don't do it for the recognition but, wow, it's a wonderful acknowledgement that you're doing something worthwhile," he said.
His sculptures are now installed across the globe, but Mr Apponyi wanted more art closer to home.
"My wife and I decided there weren't enough artworks in the Adelaide Hills and we decided, well, if we were going to live in the Adelaide Hills we want to do something to be part of this community and make something happen," he said.
After achieving huge success over a lifetime of sculpting, Mr Apponyi has now turned his focus back to the community.
Mentorship of young artists and passing on years of knowledge has become his passion.
"The real joy is seeing these young people just grow," he said.
"To think you can give them a little boost and help them along. That's what is good for me, that's the joy."
He is one of more than 60 South Australians taking home honours this year, with some of the state's most unique industries, including wine, cheese and art being awarded.
Five Indigenous visual artists celebrated
Indigenous artists from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands were also honoured, with five local artists receiving awards.
Vincent Namatjira, Peter Mungkuri, Nyurpaya Kaika Burton, and Tjunkaya Tapaya will all be awarded Medals of the Order of Australia for their services to Indigenous visual art and the community.
Founding member of the Mimili Maku Arts centre Kunmanara Mumu Mike Williams will also receive an OAM, after his death in March last year.
His wife, Tuppy Goodwin, said her husband paved the way for artists in Mimili.
"He even wrote his story down, for people to learn. He wanted everyone around the globe to hear and understand about Anangu land and Tjukurpa."
Winemaker becomes sixth-generation recipient
Joining the artists is Hardy's wine mogul Bill Hardy, who will become the sixth generation of his family to receive honours.
His four decades in the wine industry has earned him a Medal of the Order of Australia.
Spending almost two decades as the face of the company came with challenges, and missing a lot of time at home, but Mr Hardy said he was grateful for the opportunity to sell the rest of the world on Australian wine.
"I had a lucky career," he said.
"I used to always do my presentations by telling people about Australia and where it fit into the wine world."
Cheesemaker honoured after bushfires destroy stock
For cheesemaker Kris Lloyd, becoming a Member of the Order of Australia is a welcome highlight after bushfires destroyed thousands of kilos of stock over the summer.
Her family business has always produced South Australian food, but she was never expecting to become a cheesemaker.
"It was a very accidental career, to be perfectly honest," she said.
"None of us knew how to make cheese, that was a small problem."
Now she has 20 years of experience in the dairy business, Ms Lloyd is all about innovation in the industry.
"One of the things I've always been really keen to do is new and original work, and be as creative as possible," she said.
She is hoping for a bright — and cheesy — future.
"I think there will be lots of good things moving forward. We're very positive," she said.
Long-running MP recognised
Former Whyalla mayor and local MP Lyn Breuer was also recognised with an OAM for her significant work in local and state government.
She served 17 years as the Member for Giles — South Australia's largest state electorate — and came up against opposition when she was trying to get pre-selected to run back in 1997.
"Well I did and I thought, well, that is a great step for women."
Between 2010 and 2013, Ms Breuer was Speaker of the House of Assembly, and said she was responsible for bringing the MPs to order when things got rowdy.
"I threw Steven Marshall, our current Premier, out many times, almost daily at one stage," she said.
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2020-06-07 22:12:16Z
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