The Chronicle published a story on June 10 about Wendy Naylor OA being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to veterans and their families through the NSW Sub-branch of the Partner of Veterans Association, as well as the RAAF Women’s Association of NSW.
We have since learned that Wendy Naylor’s service to the community is much more far reaching than just the air force community.
Her community work with the Partner of Veterans Association NSW Sub-branch began in 2002 and she was invested with Life Membership in 2011, in recognition of her significant contribution.
The Association is a not-for-profit, non-government, voluntary organisation which supports partners/carers, widows/widowers and families of Australian veterans in all Defence Forces – the Air Force, the Army and the Navy.
Wendy Naylor OA said the Association was “very much a community” and “the girls are still very very busy”.
“Even though members were scattered all over Australia, many of them kept in contact over the phone.
“I still do my bit where I can, I like to keep in touch,” she said.
“We have meetings on the Central Coast and do a lot of fundraising as well as social outings.
Since becoming a member in 2002, she has been President, Vice-president “for a very long time”, NSW Welfare Co-ordinator from 2008 to 2014, and President of the Central Coast branch from 2004 to 2014.
For many years she was on the emergency phone list to lend a comforting ear and advice for practical support.
“Now I just do what I can locally to support them,” she said.
Reporter: Sue Murray