Wallendbeen’s Marcia Thorburn has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal for service to the community of her home village, as part of this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
She has lived in Wallendbeen all her life, the fifth generation of her family to do so, and with her husband Ken has been proud to put her hand up for many organisations.
She lists her greatest achievement as penning and publishing book The Wallendbeen Story.
Mrs Thorburn spent 10 years recording the history of the village and writing more than 90 family stories.
She has also been involved in the Wallendbeen branch of the Country Women’s Association, St Clements Anglican Church, the Wallendbeen Tennis Club, Memorial Hall Committee, Wheat Crop Competition, Tidy Towns and Clean Up Australia Day.
She was awarded a National Volunteer Award in 2011.
Mrs Thorburn learned she was being considered for the honour at the end of March and by the end of May was notified she would receive an OAM.
She said she was “very honoured and pleased” but was quick to point out she could not do what she does for the village without the assistance of Ken and other village residents.
“I am very proud of my achievements, the contribution I have made, but I do it all with much assistance from Ken for the love of Wallendbeen,” she said.
She will head to Government House in Sydney later this year to officially accept the honour.
Achievements
Wallendbeen CWA: Foundation junior member 1956. 53 years of ongoing full membership. Held an office position for 45 years including 22 years as president. Life Membership 2010.
St Clements: People’s Warden and Parish Representative since 1978. Treasurer 44 years. Coordinator 90th – 100th anniversary celebrations.
Tennis Club: Life Membership 1982. Club secretary 1969-1993.
Memorial Hall: Secretary/Treasurer 1980. Caretaker, Booking Clerk and coordinator of special events. All ongoing for 37 years.
Wheat Crop Comp: Assistant Coordinator of competition, history reports from 1969 ongoing. Awarded with husband Ken Agricultural Societies Council plaque in 2011.
Historian: Research for tourist information board at Mackay Park. Coordinator of Wallendbeen’s information leaflet. Restoration grants and historic plaques for Memorial Obelisk and Memorial Hall. Research for families. Friends of the Cemetery. History display for Kangaroo March.
She also lends her support to the Wallendbeen Public School P&C, Red Cross and Combined Church Guild.
