Honours in order for humble community champion
WHEN we contacted Dubbo’s newest Member of the Order of Australia to ask if we could visit to do a story, she had to consult her diary and slot us in between commitments, agreeing to our request “as long as you promise to make it quick”.
Shirley Stonestreet OAM, mother, great-grandmother, friend and all-round civic stalwart is a busy girl.
At a spritely 88, Mrs Stonestreet has dedicated most of her life not only to her family but to her home town and her fellow citizens, so it was only fitting that she be named in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list for service to the community of Dubbo.
Not that she thinks she deserves all the fuss, but such is the nature of the honour that it most often goes to those who don’t seek or pursue it.
“I was absolutely flabbergasted,” Mrs Stonestreet said of first learning of the impending honour, bestowed for her unwavering commitment to serving others through a range of organisations.
“You don’t volunteer because you’re looking for a pat on the back,” she assures us, adding that she initially told “them” (the awards co-ordinators) she didn’t want any media coverage but that she’s made a special exception for Dubbo Photo News.
“Volunteering isn’t just about a single person – there are other people you work with in a team. It’s not just been me – it’s been a collective effort with so many other people over the years.”
Mrs Stonestreet’s contribution to the community of Dubbo is well recognised – from her dedication to such organisations as Probus and VIEW, among others – but her commitment to volunteering began when she was a young mum of three.
“Back in Leadville when the children were going to school, a neighbour and I began holding fetes to raise money for the school.
“Then when we moved to Dubbo we became involved with scouting, and that was the start of my scouting career,” she says of a volunteer ‘job’ with the famed movement that spanned more than four decades and took her from Scouting Mum to Regional Commissioner of the Golden West Region, covering from Lithgow to Broken Hill.
“I guess I’m still involved because I’ve been privileged to be made an honourary member.”
Volunteering and serving one’s
community are traits Mrs Stonestreet has instilled in her children, all three of whom have the spirit of “giving back” running through their veins and have followed their remarkable Mum’s example into civic life.
Passing that baton is something about which she remains passionate.
“It’s essential to give the younger generation a good start – they’re the ones who are going to be our country’s future.
“If you can give them a good foundation to work from and the right mentality to achieve as much as they possibly can, that’s so important.”
With her Order of Australia, this inspirational octogenarian hopes to help shine a light on the value of volunteers.
“It’s an honour, it really is,” she says. “But more than that, it draws attention to volunteers and what they’re involved with and what they give to society.”
Mrs Stonestreet is keen to showcase the contribution of volunteers from organisations such the Scouts and VIEW – which incidentally stands for Voice, Interest and Education of Women.
“These are things people might have heard of or know vaguely about, but they don’t necessarily know much about what those organisations do. An award like this gives us an opportunity to inform people and encourage people to give back to their community.”
On behalf of that grateful community, Dubbo Photo News says a hearty “Thank you and congratulations, Shirley Stonestreet OAM.”
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ALSO named at the weekend in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for 2021 were a number of other remarkable people from around our region who have contributed significantly to their communities.
Tooraweenah batted well above average this year, with two locals awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the general division.
Jill Blackman was honoured for her service to the community of Gilgandra, while fellow Tooraweenah local Margaret Zell has similarly dedicated many decades of her life to supporting her town and its residents.
Peak Hill’s Leanne Heywood was awarded an OAM for her services to business through a range of organisations, while Susan Nicholls of Gulgong has also added the letters to her name, honoured for her service to the community.