Bullaburra resident Coralie Richmond was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the Blue Mountains community in the Queen's Birthday honours.
A Dharug woman, Ms Richmond has been a director of Blue Mountains Aboriginal Cultural and Resource Centre since 2018, and a member for 10 years. She also authored the book, Blue Mountains: The City Within a Park.
A former federation representative with New South Wales Teachers Federation, Ms Richmond was a teacher in state and independent schools from 1957 to 2008.
She was named one of the Seniors Citizens of the Year in 2020 by Blue Mountains City Council. Her citation at the time stated: "Coralie's honesty, integrity and willingness to help has led her to volunteer her time across a wide range of community activities. These include - but are certainly not limited to - her work with the Salvation Army, the church, the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and the Royal Easter Show. She is also always there to help her friends and neighbours and sits on the Board of Directors for the Blue Mountains Aboriginal Culture and Resource Centre (ACRC).
"Coralie is an immensely experienced teacher, with a masterful grasp of the curriculum and a passion for her subject and teaching young people. She always has enormous energy and commitment and an unrivalled drive to achieve outcomes.
"She is also a long-time advocate for voluntary assisted dying laws and suicide awareness and prevention.
"Her engaging and friendly personality, generosity and dedication to helping people in significant ways means Coralie gives herself to each cause in the most energetic and purposeful way."
