Former Accru Partner awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM)

Barrie Provan, a founding partner of Accru Melbourne, has received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in recognition for his extraordinary service to the community of Queenscliff.

Barrie Provan co-founded Accru Melbourne, then known as Accru Danby Bland Provan, in 1974. In addition to advising businesses and not-for-profits at Accru Melbourne, Barrie has held honorary roles assisting community groups, churches, nursing homes, grammar schools and other charities – as treasurer or accountant – virtually all his life.

A caring, humble and professional individual, Barrie has been a great role model for everyone at Accru. Accru Melbourne’s culture is based on core values: we care about you, we enjoy what we do, we create opportunities and we do the right thing. Barrie’s legacy in all of those values shines through at our office daily and we are so proud of his achievements.

Barrie’s professional accounting career 

Barrie was a partner of Accru from the mid-sixties until his retirement in 1994. His link to the Bellarine community started early during this time, when he purchased a holiday home in 1968. Upon retirement Barrie decided to move to Point Lonsdale permanently where he established a vineyard and conference centre, known as ‘Suma Park’ at Marcus Hill.

After establishing his career in the fifties with W. Kirkhope & Co, (later KPMG), Barrie then joined with Eddie Wilson in the early sixties. Eddie and his father as Chartered Accountants had connections with the VFL, Melbourne Cricket Club and the Victorian Cricket Association as well as the audits of major teaching hospitals, such as Royal Melbourne and Austin Hospitals.

Honorary roles

Throughout his business life, Barrie held honorary board positions with the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, where he was chairman of the nursing home for two decades. He was also on the Board of Lowther Hall Anglican Girls School where he was influential in the establishment of Overnewton Anglican Community College, a co-educational school of over 2,000 students and Geelong Christian College, Waurn Ponds.  Barrie also served as honorary treasurer of the Missions to Seamen form 1963 to 1987.

In recent times, his role as an elder with the Queenscliff-Point Lonsdale Uniting Church has brought him a great deal of satisfaction. As Barrie says  “It’s not just a church — it’s really blended into the wider community. There used to be a view that church was just a thing for Sundays but there’s so many community events and uses now, which is fantastic.”

Barrie is a keen sportsman, having played cricket for Balwyn Cricket Club where he was President for 14 years, and currently a life member. At 82 he continues to play golf and singles tennis a few times a week.

We would like to congratulate Barrie on this great achievement! See Geelong Advertiser article Barrie Provan OAM – Accru Melbourne – Geelong Advertiser