Lisarow resident, Tricia Fortier, has received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service to youth through Scouts and the community.
Fortier said she was surprised to hear she had won the award most notably for her 30 years volunteering with Scouts Australia.
“When I first got the email, I thought, is this for real?” she said.
“I work with so many different people who do lots of volunteer work, so it was certainly quite humbling.
“I’m honoured to receive this award and congratulations to the other recipients.”
Fortier has had many leadership roles with Scouts, including Assistant Region Commissioner for Operations, Region Leader in Development and District Leader for Special Projects.
“The reason I entered was my son was in Scouts and I was in the committee, and they were looking for more leaders,” he said.
“It has kept me busy, we are always learning, and it is enjoyable working with our youth.
“Scouts is a wonderful program.
“It doesn’t matter how scholastically (able) the kids are; it is for everyone, and there is always something the children can do.
“We have both male and female in scouting.
“It is a great social program where they learn lots of outdoor skills.
“It allows them to try lots of things and get some training in at the same time.
“[I love] working with the youth and seeing how they progress as they are the adults of the future.”
Fortier is now retired but uses her nursing background to volunteer for Ronald McDonald Family Room at Gosford Hospital.
She has also been a speaker for the Humour Foundation with the Clown Doctors.
“I work with many different people and not just in the work that I do with Scouts,” she said.
“Part of what I do is work alongside the wonderful people here on the Central Coast who support and help with fundraising.
“There are a lot of wonderful people out there.
“I am very proud to be a Coastie, and I like to be part of the community.
“I like to help people, and I like to be able to do things, especially where there is a need.”
Jacinta Counihan