By SONJA KOREMANS
A WAR veteran from Warwick has won the distinguished national 2015 RSL Anzac Peace Prize.
Fred Hyde, a 2015 Member of the Order of Australia recipient, will add the award to his many accolades for a life spent working to help others.
Mr Hyde, 94, was announced as the winner by the national RSL president this week.
The Second World War veteran’s dedication to educating abandoned children in Bangladesh was among the many reason he was presented the prize, the RSL said.
Seeing the plight of children left orphaned after the cyclone storm surge which hit Bhola Island in 1970, Mr Hyde sold his house and poured all his savings into his not-for-profit organisation Co-operation in Development.
Since 1991, the former engineer has built 45 schools, five kindergartens and education training facilities for 165 teachers.
More than 12,000 children attend Co-operation in Development schools.
Mr Hyde, who spends six months of every year in Bangladesh directing his projects, was attending one of his schools in India when the award was announced.
The humble role model recently spoke with Southern Free Times when he was named the 2015 Queensland Senior Australian of the Year a few months ago.
Mr Hyde told Free Times that accolades rate “reasonably high” on his list of achievements but he has more pressing issues to contemplate.
He said he hoped his recent recognition would generate publicity and funding for his organisation and uncover a capable successor.
RSL national president Rear Admiral Ken Doolan said Mr Hyde exemplifies the Anzac spirit within the broader community.
“Mr Hyde was selected by the RSL Anzac Awards Committee for the award in recognition of over three decades of philanthropic work rescuing and educating orphaned and abandoned children in Bangladesh,“ he said.
The award aims to recognise an outstanding effort by Australians who have made a contribution to world peace.
