The Nambucca Heads retiree received the Order of Australia Medal in the Queens birthday honours over the long weekend.

“It bothered me at first because I was receiving recognition when there are so many volunteers doing so much work,” Edna told the Guardian.

“I thought there must be people that deserve this better than I do.

“Then I was speaking to the mayor, Rhonda, and people who were involved in the nomination and I said I felt like that and she told me – ‘Edna if you can name me one person that’s done for the community what you have, then I will be very happy to nominate them for an award. You were my inspiration to become involved in the community and council’. 

“That made me feel that maybe I have made a contribution enough to have this, accept it gracefully and get on with it.”

Edna’s citation reads “for services to the community of the Nambucca Valley” but her energy and enthusiasm for helping others and fundraising for the community spreads much further.

“I became involved very young when we lived in Eungai Creek village and everything that was on you joined in,” Edna said.

“As a child, I’m one of a family of 15, the fourth eldest and the second girl, so you were caring for younger people, so the caring extended out, I believe that’s what started me off back then.

“From there it just happened … we were brought up to think we could do anything we wished to do all our lives, so why not.”

As a long term resident, holding local representation on and membership with numerous committees and community organisations, Edna has an enormous breadth of local knowledge and experience.

She has been a patron and avid supporter of Nambucca Heads Rotary (President 1999-2000), Illawong Retirement Village (president 33 years, director 35 years), Macksville branch of War Widows Guild of Australia (president, coordinator and member), Nambucca Valley branch of Red Cross, Nambucca Historical Society (vice-president 15 years), and the Gordon Park Rainforest Committee to name a few.

“You don’t do community work to seek rewards; you do community work because you want to. You want to help to make a difference,” she said.

“I just like people and I like community and I like to be doing something to help. I think it’s part of your nature, you either have it or you don’t.”

In addition to the pivotal roles she has played with local community groups, Edna is also well-known for her time as Nambucca Shire Council’s deputy mayor (12 years), her 19 years as part of the Nambucca Heads Entertainment Committee and 18 years as president of the Nambucca Heads Public School’s P&C.

“I stood for council and I was elected, and that was it – 18 years later, I thought ‘I might finish up now’,” she said.

“But when I was on council, I learned that I had an amazing capacity to attend meetings and help run meetings.

“I learned it was a great distraction – I had a problem with rheumatoid arthritis and it’s a great distraction to have something that you are going to do to get away from thinking about yourself.

“I learned there are so many small things you can do to help people in the community through council that nobody hears or know about but it gives you a great feeling of satisfaction to know that you helped that person who didn’t know where to turn or how to do something. 

“And that’s the most rewarding thing about it.”

Not surprising, there is no barrier for Edna, who plans to continue working closely with community groups and organisations as long as she is able.

“I nearly retired from Illawong Village last year and they said to me “why would you do that?” – so I thought maybe I can still do it.”

While Edna said she had initially felt “bothered” by her award, her family could not think of anyone more deserving.

“We are so proud … we thought we were proud before,” they said.

“Mum’s been such a role model for us, this award is very deserved.

“She’s been an inspiration to all of us, and continues to be.”