Vidyasagaran Haran Ramachandran awarded OAM for dedicated service to Sydney’s Hindu community – By Amit Sarwal and Pallavi Jain
Ramachandran’s OAM acknowledges a life devoted to selfless service, cross-cultural collaboration, and a commitment to improving lives across borders through humanitarian efforts.
Vidyasagaran Haran Ramachandran of Castle Hill, NSW, has been honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List for his outstanding service to the community through a range of organisations, particularly Rotary and Hindu community groups.
Ramachandran told The Australia Today that this recognition reflects his lifelong commitment to compassion, community, and service.
“This recognition is a reflection of the values I live by — compassion, community, and service above self — all of which I’ve been fortunate to uphold through my journey with Rotary,” he told The Australia Today.
A tireless volunteer and community leader, Ramachandran has been a driving force in Rotary International for over two decades, particularly through the Hills-Kellyville Rotary Club, where he served as President (2006–2008) and currently chairs International Service. He has been recognised repeatedly, including being named Rotarian of the Year for three consecutive years and honoured as a Paul Harris Fellow in 2005.
Within Rotary District 9685, Ramachandran currently serves as Chair of the Rotary Foundation and has previously led the Grants Sub-Committee. His international outreach includes multiple community service projects through Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd, where he managed impactful initiatives in Vietnam, Sri Lanka and India, ranging from medical equipment provision to COVID-19 relief and sustainable development.
Ramachandran said it had been a privilege to collaborate with Rotarians and community leaders to uplift vulnerable communities through education, healthcare, and dignity.
“I hope this honour inspires others to see that through Rotary and collective action, we all have the power to create lasting change.”
In addition to his Rotary leadership, Ramachandran has made significant contributions to Australia’s Hindu community. He served on the Management Committee of the Sydney Sri Ayyappa Swami Temple from 2001 to 2016, including terms as Secretary and Assistant Secretary. He is also a Life Member of the Hindu Society of Victoria, having volunteered at Melbourne’s Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in the early 1990s.
His contributions have been recognised by multiple Rotary accolades, including the Rotary Foundation District Service Award (2021), Avenues of Service Award for International Service (2020), and the prestigious Citation for Meritorious Service (2023).
Ramachandran’s OAM acknowledges a life devoted to selfless service, cross-cultural collaboration, and a commitment to improving lives across borders through humanitarian efforts.
Image: Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC (Source: https://www.gg.gov.au/)
Governor-General Sam Mostyn AC, in announcing this year’s list, praised the honourees for their “passion, generosity, energy and resolve”, and noted the growing recognition of public service excellence across the country. “These honours recognise the selfless service, integrity, achievement, creativity, and care that flourish across our country,” she said.
“Every day, and all across the country, Australians are doing extraordinary things with passion, generosity, energy, and resolve. … I look forward to meeting many of you at the investiture of your awards.”
In the coming months, honourees will be presented with their awards at investiture ceremonies held at Government House in their respective states and territories.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
