HONOURS1: Sister Marjorie McLachlan.
HONOURS2: Margaret Roberts.
TWO inspirational Port Macquarie women from two different backgrounds have been awarded Order of Australia Medals.
Sister Marjorie McLachlan and Margaret Roberts were recognised on the Queen’s Birthday holiday for their lifetime of dedication to the community.
A humbled Sister Marjorie said she didn’t believe she was worthy of such an honour.
“I feel terrible about it,” she said.
“I am very gratfeul to whoever nominated me for it.”
The 78-year-old has been the backbone of the Ecumenical Care Service soup kitchen in Port Macquarie, which runs every Monday.
It can serve up to 200 people.
“It’s just the way we were brought up … you always try and help those in need,” Sister Marjorie said.
“I grew up in Newcastle and joined the Sisters of St Joseph’s when I was 18.”
Her work for God has taken her all over the country and parts of the world.
In the 1980s, Sister Marjorie was a teacher at the International School in Boroko, a suburb of Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.
In the early 1990s, she was instrumental in establishing Hunter Carers for the Intellectually Disabled in Newcastle.
The group established two homes to accommodate five disabled people whose parents had grown too old to look after them at home.
Most recently, though, Sister Marjorie has dedicated her attention to the needy in Port Macquarie.
Sister Marjorie helps run an op-shop to help fund the soup kitchen.
“I’m very grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had in life and I enjoy giving back to those less fortunate,” she said.
The other Order of Australia Medal recipient is best known for her work outside of the Hastings.
Mrs Roberts has only just moved to Port Macquarie, but she was a stalwart in the Muswellbrook region.
A legend of the Country Women’s Association, Mrs Roberts was the state president from 2007 to 2010 and filled a number of roles of the executive before that.
Her service to the community, particularly women, has been substantial.
Mrs Roberts said she was shocked to be named an OAM recipient.
“It was quite a shock, but it’s something I’m proud of,” she said.
“I was brought up to help out where possible and that’s what I did.”
Mrs Roberts and her husband Arthur moved to Port Macquarie just before Christmas and were settling in well to “city life”.
“We’ve lived on the land and came to Port to enjoy retirement,” she said.
“I’m sure we’ll still be quite active in the community.”
Mrs Roberts is already a member of the Port Macquarie branch of the Country Women’s Association and can be seen playing ten-pin bowls at the local alley.
“We are really enjoying being in town,” she said.
