The outbreak of COVID-19 was a challenging time for us all. Locked down, unable to see our friends or relatives, fearing what might happen when we contracted the virus that spread throughout the globe. However, we should never forget that while most of us were in lock down, there were many others who had no choice but to go to work – like our health professionals. And it was Stanwell Park resident Dr Trevor Gardener who was tasked with overseeing many aspects of the local health system. In June, Dr Gardener was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his efforts as deputy lead at Illawarra and Shoalhaven Local Health District during COVID-19 in 2020. It is important to note that Dr Gardener's contributions have not only been at a local level. More than a decade ago, he was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as the senior medical officer for the Australian Defence Force. Prior to that he had also spent time in Rwanda and East Timor, as well as being a part of Bali Assist 2. Congratulations again Dr Gardener of your latest and much deserved accolade.