By Cam Lucadou-Wells
The International Order of Old Bastards (IOOB) is a much kinder charity than it sounds.
Long-standing member Ian Arrell, 75, and the charity have been responsible for many acts of kindness in the South East, helping those who have nowhere else to turn.
On 26 January, the Cardinia resident and former Dandenong and Narre Warren police officer was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
He is also well known as the piper, who hasn’t missed a beat or an Anzac Day service at Dandenong for the past 20 years.
Mr Arrell has also played bagpipes at Springvale RSL’s Anzac Day ceremony for 15 years.
Remarkably, his playing started at Coburg RSL’s Remembrance Day service in 1958 and he has played there since without fail.
“It’s important to me.
“My great uncle was at Gallipoli and France (in World War I) and he actually survived.
“Both my uncles served in the Second World War.”
Mr Arrell also followed his grandfather, who served in the police force at Warrnambool CIB.
“As long as I remember I wanted to be a policeman.”
However he was rejected three times by police recruiters before rising to be a CIB detective as well as officers in the fraud and stolen vehicle squads.
He has been a member of IOOB since 1982 and does it because he loves it.
Now secretary, he says the charity prides itself on spending every cent it receives – all of which is raised from its members’ pockets.
Sometimes it pays the utility bill for a broke single mum, the new workboots for a job-seeker or the fridge for a charity kitchen.
Or it gives money to a host of other recognised charities that don’t have paid staff or fundraisers.
Each year, the IOOB delivered a truckload of Christmas toys to the former Dandenong Benevolent Society.
As for his OAM, Mr Arrell says it was unexpected.
“You don’t do these things for the recognition.
“I thoroughly enjoy the (IOOB) and I thoroughly enjoy my piping.”
