IF YOU want something done give it to a busy person – unfortunately if you want to honour a busy person, it sometimes takes a little longer to get there.
Chinderah’s Felicia Cecil was officially named this year’s Tweed Woman of the Year – but it wasn’t until last week that NSW Member for Tweed Geoff Provest was finally able to present her with the award.
“It was Tuesday – no wait I met the Education Minister on Tuesday at the Tweed Chamber of Commerce breakfast, it was Thursday,” Felicia laughed.
“I was shocked. It was a tremendous honour.”
The awards are an initiative of the NSW Government’s Minister for Women Pru Goward and are announced each year on International Women’s Day in early March.
Member for Tweed Geoff Provest said Felicia Cecil was a worthy recipient of this year’s award.
“I think this is a very well-deserved award and a small thankyou for all the things she has done for this community,” he said.
“When people are in need in this area all they have to do is ring Felicia.”
Felicia is currently President of the Chinderah and District Residents Association, President of the Kingscliff High School P&C, Deputy Chairman, Board of Management, Blair Athol Accommodation and Support Services and Far North Coast P&C delegate and Kingscliff Uniting Church Council Chairperson.
She still grows plants and bakes the best sponge cakes for the Cudgen Primary School fete each year and today she will be leading the singing at the Cudgen Anzac Day Dawn Service.
Born and raised on the Tweed, Felicia left the area to go to teachers college and get married, when her husband rejoined the RAAF they moved to Sydney before eventually moving home to the Tweed in 1978.
While some of us get to P&C meetings once or twice during our children’s schooling, Felicia joined the Cudgen Primary School P&C in 1985 when her daughter started school, Kingscliff High in 1992 and started acting as a delegate that same year. Her daughter has long-since left school but Felicia still feels passionate about P&C and education.
“I just think an education is the most powerful, enduring and uplifting thing that anyone can ever receive,” she said.
“That is an unwaivering belief I have held all that time.”
She said it was particularly important to be involved in the P&C now “as I think our education system is under attack from a number of sources”.
But Felicia maintains she is part of a team in everything she does paying tribute to former Cudgen Principal Terry Lyndon who was principal when her daughter started school in 1985.
“Terry Lyndon took his P&C with him every step of the way there was no distinction between staff and P&C. Debbie McKinnon down at Pottsville is like that too.”
She said she became involved in the Chinderah residents because “If I’m going to live here I’m going to be involved” and helped the fight against the proposed marina.
She remains heavily involved in the Kingscliff Uniting Church and fund-raising for Blair Athol and paid tribute to Minister Craig and his wife Janette and all they do for the community too.
