Kearsley Community Dawn Service Committee chairperson Jordan Fallon named Cessnock citizen of the year

Thanks to his research, more than 100 local servicemen and women from Kearsley, Abernethy and Elrington - who had not previously been publicly honoured - have now been recognised with plaques in the remembrance garden at Kearsley Community Hall.

Mr Fallon's dedication to preserving the district's military history were recognised on Australia Day when he was named Cessnock's citizen of the year for 2022.

The award was a nice birthday surprise for Mr Fallon, who turned 27 on January 26.

"I was really surprised, and I'm incredibly humbled," he said.

"There are a lot of people in Kearsley, and across the LGA, who contribute so much to our community... I've never really put myself in that league."

Mr Fallon has been a lifelong military history buff, inspired by the service of his grandfather, Gunner Henry Fallon of Abernethy, who served in World War II.

As chairperson of the dawn service committee, his role has extended from research to grant application writing (helping the committee gain about $21,000 worth of funding over four years), to community education and awareness (through school presentations and maintaining the committee's Facebook page, posting regular tributes to local service personnel).

He was instrumental in the establishment of the World War II memorial benches at the Kearsley garden, which were unveiled by Governor of NSW, Margaret Beazley in March 2021.

Mr Fallon says the Kearsley dawn service committee has two key aims: commemoration and education.

"(The remembrance garden) is a place for people to sit and reflect about the sacrifices that their loved ones made and their contribution to the development and security of our nation," he said.

The committee has formed a partnership with Kearsley Public School, with members visiting the school to give presentations, and research on local service personnel worked into the curriculum.

"Educating younger generations who have not been exposed to war makes them realise the sacrifices that their ancestors made to be able to enjoy the freedoms and lifestyles that we have today," Mr Fallon said.

The Facebook page is another way to educate the community, and it allows families - particularly those who are not able to travel to Kearsley - to commemorate their loved ones online.

And there's plenty more to come: during lockdown last year, Mr Fallon trawled through the 1913 electoral roll and found 20 more names from the nearby mining village of Edenville, who will be honoured at the Kearsley memorial in the near future.

In between full-time work, studying for two degrees and his volunteer work with the dawn service committee, Mr Fallon has also been a member of Kurri Kurri Rotary Club for the past eight years.

He was the youngest Rotary Club president in Australia when he was appointed to lead the club for its 2015-2016 term, aged 19.

And he does it all simply to give back to the community he loves.

Mr Fallon wasn't able to attend the Australia Day awards ceremony due to work commitments, so Cessnock mayor Jay Suvaal met with him at the Kearsley remembrance garden on Monday to congratulate him in person.

Cr Suvaal - whose great-grandfather William Hartcher is honoured on the Kearsley memorial for his World War I service - said Mr Fallon is an outstanding citizen.

"Jordan is young, smart and dedicated to preserving and honouring our local military history," he said.

"He has undertaken significant research and identified so many local service personnel who would otherwise have gone unrecognised for their service.

"We're so fortunate to have Jordan as a member of our community.

"His commitment to providing a space where local service personnel are publicly honoured in perpetuity ensures residents now and into the future are aware of the sacrifice of those who have gone before them."