Clubs Tasmania
has been described as a role model for women on the East Coast and was the local representative of the Premiers Disability Council. She worked as a liaison officer with St Helens District High School for more than 17 years, giving her an intimate knowledge of the families in the community, and for this work she received a State Award for Educational Excellence in 2004. Another of Margaret’s contributions is to the Little Athletics Centre in St Helens. Margaret was living on the East Coast with her husband and five children in 1981 when a group of parents were involved in determining the interest in Little Athletics. At a public meeting, a committee was formed with Margaret as the inaugural Secretary of the new centre. Margaret had a 35-year involvement with Little Athletics, including 25 years in St Helens. Margaret then became involved with the sports complex steering committee and began working on sourcing government funding so the community could build a sporting facility where children and adults could train and compete. Since the early days of the St Helens Sporting Complex, Margaret has been involved with the St Helens Athletics Carnival including as Secretary for six years. The carnival was voted National Athletics Carnival of the Year in 2005-06. Former St Helens Little Athletics member Tao Baker was State Athlete of the Year for 2005-06, while 10 former St Helens Little Athletic members have competed in state teams since Margaret first started the organisation including Tamie Roney, who Margaret coached to be the first Tasmanian race-walking medal winner at the Australian championships. Aside from being foundation Secretary for the St Helens Little Athletics Centre, Margaret has also been Secretary, Vice President, President and Life Member of the St Helens Netball Association, a Tasmanian Netball Association board member, the Patron of the East Coast Vietnam Veterans Association for five years and is the current St Helens Hospital Auxiliary Chairwoman. She was the augural joint Secretary of the committee for the Cancer Council’s East Coast Relay for Life, which in 2007 raised more than $53,000.
Currently as chair of the Hospital Auxiliary she organises the St Helens Tip Shop which raises money by selling preloved goods at the St Helens tip site. Staffed by volunteers, annually they raise $15,000 to $20,000 of which $10,000 is distributed locally within the Community with the balance shared between the Hospital and our local Aged Care facility, Medea Park.
PICTURED: MARGARET AT A PRESENTATION OF A DEFIBULATOR TO LOCAL EMERGENCY SERVICES
In recognition of her services to the community, Margaret has been awarded the Australian Centenary Medal (2001), Portland Council Citizen of the Year Award (1994), Break O’Day Council Citizen of the Year Award (1998), Australia Sports Medal (1998) and the Tasmanian Little Athletic Association State Service Award (2002). Margaret was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2005 for service to the community of St Helens through a range of sporting, recreational and school organisations, and to local government.
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40 Tasmanian Hospitality Review April/May Edition
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