POSSIBLY one of the most recognised faces throughout the Nambucca Valley, thanks to her countless years drumming up support for the establishment of a local dialysis service, Rona Freeman has now been recognised for those efforts as the deserved winner of the 2014 Citizen of the Year award.
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“In the beginning when I got the phonecall I was extremely emotional,” Rona told the Guardian.
“But it’s an excellent feeling.”
Rona has spent the last 22 years working towards the creation of a local dialysis unit and in May last year, her dream was realised.
“I called a public meeting in 2011 – I wasn’t going to be fobbed off any longer. It was then we formed a committee, soon after we met Mark and Sheree and as they say, the rest is history.
“Sometimes I stop and think: ‘is this actually real or a fantasy’ ... it’s such an unbelievable thing to have achieved after such a long time rallying.
“To all those people who have supported me and this mission in some way, give yourselves a pat on the back.
“The community needs to recognise how much help they have been, every contribution was important from the large donations to the $1 raffle tickets bought.”
There’s no denying the gratitude of patients towards Rona’s efforts - even during this interview the Guardian witnessed one patient thanking her with great warmth for what she had done.
The man thanked her saying what a nice change it was only having to drive 15 kilometres for regular treatment rather than 300 odd kms and three long hours in the car.
Outside of her dialysis committee and fundraising duties, Rona is an avid Nambucca Roosters supporter.
A life member of both the junior and senior clubs, she can be seen often helping with first aid and canteen duties.
Rona has always worked in the health sector.
She was a nurse for 50 years, 40 of those spent in pathology.
“Dialysis is my greatest achievement, and I do what I do with the footy because of my love for the sport and the people,” she said.
“But deep down having lost Paul (my son), my heart is more into this (dialysis).
“This place (the new unit) is their home away from home, they spend hours upon hours here and now they don’t have to travel.
“We’ve made it as comfortable as possible for them.
“We are far from done, but we’re a hell of a lot closer now.
“I’m still going and I’m not stopping.”
* See this week's Guardian for stories and photos of more award winners
