It’s not that often that we get to stop, and in a public way, pay tribute to some of those members of our community who have made great contributions to it.
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But that is exactly what happened last Saturday morning. And it happened twice!
A birthday party recognised three retired nurses (pictured), all aged in the 90s, whose careers spanned many decades at Glen Innes Hospital.
Nancy Berridge, Betty Whyte and Daisy Day celebrated with a combined party at the hospital on Saturday.
Mrs Whyte came to Glen Innes in July 1938 and commenced four years training on the job. Daisy Day was the night duty sister – commencing her training in 1947. Mrs Berridge nursed what they believed to be the first boy in Australia to survive tetanus.
They longevity is an inspiration.
While that celebration took place, over at the library we honoured those local residents who have received an Order of Australia Medal over the last four years.
Five names – Merv Sharman, Gwen Parker, Jim Wilson, Dorothy Every and Noel Schmidt – were added to the honour roll.
We simply do not have the space here to do justice to their contribution to our community, but a glance at the local groups they have been involved with shows a long list as organisations that make our community what it is.
Gwen Parker’s community involvement includes the Glen Innes Evening Branch of the Country Women’s Association, the Glen Innes Karinya Association, the Uniting Church and Glen Innes Probus Club.
Jim Wilson is a past member of the Apex Club, worked tirelessly for the Glen Innes Golf Club, served on the Board of Glen Industries and helped create our Men’s Shed.
As well as many years of civic duty, Merv Sharman was a founding member and former chairman of Glenwood Gardens, and for 25 years was a volunteer with the Lions Club.
Dorothy Every’s involvement included the CWA, the Rural Counselling Service, Glen Innes Show Ladies Auxiliary, the Guyra Lamb and Potato festival, as well as the Glen Innes Severn Tourism Association.
Noel Schmidt has operated healthy lifestyle programs for many years.
What both events showed us, is that whether you contribute through paid employment such as the nurses or through volunteer roles (and the truth is many of us do both), at some point we should all stop and say thank you.
