SMSA President Winsome Allen was delighted to present Mechanics’ Institute of Victoria‘s Jim Lowden with the inaugural SMSA Medal in recognition of “the extent, quality and nature of his tireless contribution to the broader community through education and participation locally, nationally and internationally”.

Jim had been invited to the Annual General Meeting as guest speaker, and was unaware that he would be receiving the SMSA Medal following his speech. After Jim spoke about how his involvement in the Mechanics’ Institute movement had come about and Mechanics’ Institutes of Victoria’s work, he was genuinely surprised and touched to receive the medal with his wife Ros and daughter Bronwyn present.

The medal is the highest award given by the School to an individual.

The full text of the citation can be found at the left.

Read the text of Jim’s address to members.