Ms Helen Hall has become the first Seventh-day Adventist to be presented with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) during a ceremony in Government House, Melbourne on 11 May 2005.

According to the citation that was first announced in the Australia Day Honours List this year, Ms Hall is being recognised for her “service to international relations, particularly in the establishment of educational facilities in Thailand.”

“It’s most amazing. I’m still in a state of shock,” says Ms Hall. “I feel very grateful for it and I think that it will be of help to our people and to the work I’m doing. I hope it makes it easier for us to raise funds for the school, which is supported by donations.”

Ms Hall, an educator originally from Melbourne, has been involved in establishing schools for Karen refugees in Thailand for the last 25 years. She founded Eden Valley Academy, located in Mae Sot, Tak, Thailand after only a couple of years in the country and is now its volunteer principal.

"I came for one year 25 years ago, and it just sort of grew when they asked me to run a school,” says Ms Hall. “The Lord needs workers amongst these people. The kids and the tremendous need of the people keep me working in Thailand.”

Several graduates of Eden Valley Academy have gone on to education in other schools, including Adventist-owned Mission College in Thailand, with most returning to help their people.

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Melody Tan
Phone: (02) 9847 3247
Mobile: 0404 861 457
Email: mtan@adventist.org.au