Haran OAM For Service
Like most committed volunteers Haran Ramachandran is incredibly humble about his recent OAM in the Kings Birthday Honours.
The Castle Hill father of two was recognised for his service to the community through a range of organisations including the Hills-Kellyville Rotary Club.
He told the Hills to Hawkesbury Community News, “I was in disbelief—honoured that someone recognised what I do out of passion. This award isn’t just for me; it’s for everyone working to make life better. It’s renewed my drive to keep serving—whether it’s helping a girl stay in school or bringing clean water to families.”
Haran is former Chair, International Service, and former President, Chair Rotary Foundation (Rotary Club and District 9685) and former Chair Rotary Foundation Grants Sub-Committee. As well as being part of programs in Australia, including a project to provide a portanle OCT camera to the Westmead Children’s Hospital Eye Unit, he has been project manager for several overseas projects under Rotary Australia World Community Service to Vietnam, Sri Lanka and India and also been involved in The Rotary Foundation Global Grant programs in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bolivia, Nigeria and Cambodia. He is currently the District Governor Nominee for Rotary (D9685) and outside Rotary is a volunteer at the Sydney Sri Ayyappa Swami Temple and other diaspora organizations.
Haran joined Hills-Kellyville Rotary Club in 2001 and joined the E-Club of Greater Sydney in 2023 due to work travel commitments. While a Rotarian for a long time he became really active after recovering from a near-fatal accident.
In May 2009 Haran suffered full thickness burns to 55% of his body after a lawnmower accident one weekend. He was initially on life-support and while asked about turning it off his wife refused. Haran ended up in Concord Hospital’s burns unit for seven months. Years of surgical procedures followed.
His wife Ahsha became the main breadwinner while Rotary members drove the couple’s two daughters to school and back and then drove Haran to medical appointments for nearly three years.
