A proud Wangkumara woman, Lorna was born in Bourke, the second child of Anthony Dixon and Margaret Ann Edwards, and named for her grandmother, Lorna Rose Dixon - a great linguist.

First came Sweeney, then Lorna, followed in rapid succession by Chris (Coddy), Kim, Debbie, Barbara, Kelvin and Venus. As the eldest daughter, and overwhelmingly nurturing, she left school early to take care of the little ones. This set the pattern of maternal care that Lorna practiced for her entire life.

She demonstrated prodigious artistic talent, some examples of which adorn the walls of Macksville Hospital, and many homes.

She met her life's partner, Ray, in 1980. Over her sadly attenuated life, Lorna reared, fostered and sheltered over fifty young people for various reasons, and sometimes for no reason. Just love, of which she had an infinite abundance. Animals, from pigs to joeys to sheep to chooks to noisy dogs to the foul-mouthed but much loved bird, Bobby, were included, especially if orphaned.

Lorna appeared in my surgery one day in 2004, accompanied by a veritable array of children, all beautifully groomed and behaved. She cheerfully announced that they all needed medical attention (in a fifteen minute appointment slot). They had only recently joined her from Bourke.

Over the next months, this became a regular event as more and more children arrived, sometimes unexpectedly. She was unfailingly punctual, cheerful and grateful. I soon learnt that none of these children were genetically hers, but that she had reared most of the Dixon extended family over two generations. No child - or person - was ever turned away from her home, or refused a bed. In fact, this bed was often a shared mattress in a friend's converted garage, a fact that many middle class white folks could not comprehend.

Our friendship grew, breaking down traditional doctor/patient boundaries. She was just so easy to love, as were the children. Lorna's children were taught by my husband at Bowraville Central school, and he was full of admiration at her support of and involvement in their education. Lorna believed fervently in education as a tool for rising out of disadvantage. Once they all moved in across the road from my parents in law, the knot between our families was tied.

The bond between our families widened and solidified. I had the privilege of caring for her brother Coddy for many years and attended his funeral in Bourke. The Dixons graced every family function of ours, and we theirs. The Dixon Family reunion in Bourke was an absolute highlight, and a culmination of the merging of our families. There we met many adults who had been reared by Lorna, when misfortune had struck. They have become successful adults. We were honoured to be made godparents to three of her children, and my son Simon a godparent to a fourth. As this amazing family grew in size and strength, Lorna was always at its core, and a force to be reckoned with. With typical Dixon love we were made "honorary Dixons", a subject of great amusement to many, given my blond hair and excessively pale skin.

These are some lessons I have learnt from Lorna.

On Christmas Day, Lorna was in her usual hospital bed. I was driving home from work when I realized I hadn't seen her that day. Something made me turn around and drive back to tell her I loved her. Her last words to me were "Who will look after my babies?" Her fear of dying was replaced by calm acceptance when she saw her two deceased brothers and her father, and she knew her time had come.

Lorna's totem (spirit animal) is the sand goanna. The morning she died a young female goanna appeared in our yard, not interested in the chooks, but just wanting to be there and I knew Lorna was finally at peace.

Her funeral in Bourke had the largesse of a state event. We laughed, cried and ate johnny cakes. She is buried near Fred Hollows, another iconic figure. I feel they both would have been proud. She has had such a profound impact on my life, and the life of hundreds of others. I miss her so much.

Vale Lorna Dixon - a Great Australian.