Loco 8212, a diesel of the 82 class, was called the Jennifer Roberts by NSW Rail as part of a state-wide program naming trains after prominent community people.

"It's the only one of its class that has run off the rails, typically," she joked, back home in Coota after her trip to Sydney last week to receive the Medal of the Order of Australia in recognition of her service to the community.

"I remember at 2 o'clock one morning I got a phone call from a friend held up in his car at a level crossing by the "Jennifer Roberts" shunting wagons. He said if he had to sit and watch me shunting backwards and forwards I might as well be awake too!"

Mrs Roberts has been involved in amateur theatre in Cootamundra for the past 59 years. In her nomination of Mrs Roberts, local arts supporter Judy Emery said that after acting in and producing plays for Cootamundra Amateur Dramatic Society (CADAS) since 1960, Jenny recognised the need for young people to have their own drama society and founded CADAS Kids.

"Known as JR to her protégés, she has devoted her life to this undertaking and continues to this day as facilitator, educator and mentor," Mrs Emery said.

"To date some 500 young people have been in the program, and their lives have been greatly enriched.

"She has run the program for so long that some of the recent participants are the children of past CADAS Kids.

"Under the banner 'drama is fun' Jenny teaches many performance and stagecraft skills and life skills such as responsibility, punctuality, cooperation, accountability, commitment, manners and respect.

"For 30 years Jenny has involved CADAS Kids in Meals on Wheels deliveries to broaden their awareness, responsibility and involvement in their community.

"Originally yearly but now bienially, they put on a major production, with a trip to Melbourne in the other year."