Valerie George admits she was shocked when she received the letter informing her she was being awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
“When I opened it I didn’t know if I was going to cry, laugh or pass out… It was wonderful,” she said.
The Lapstone resident received her Australia Day honour for service to women's health and to the community of the Nepean Valley.
“I thought you had to do something really marvellous to receive an award like this but I’ve just gone through life just ‘doing’,” she said modestly.
“My mum always said to me ‘if you can’t do the right thing, don’t do the wrong thing’. I’ve always given from the heart, not expecting anything in return.”
Mrs George, 78, is an active member of the Nepean Valley Zonta Club, whose mission is to advance the status of women around the world. She helps achieve that at a local level by co-ordinating the sewing of breast support cushions which Zonta Clubs donate to hospitals for women who have undergone mastectomies.
She said Zonta is “a marvellous organisation” and credits Lily Cowen – another Lapstone resident who was recognised in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday honours for her work with Zonta – for getting her involved.
Mrs George, who lived in St Marys before moving to the Blue Mountains 28 years ago, also used to volunteer with Meals On Wheels.
“If you can do one little thing for a person that makes them happy, it makes me happy. That’s how I feel,” she said.
