Di Willard has stepped down as chairperson of Ourimbah Region Residents Association (ORRA) after 25 years on the executive.
She originally joined what was then the Ourimbah Precinct Committee in 2000 as secretary and became chairperson in 2004.
After the precinct committee was terminated in 2014, Willard was instrumental in transferring the precinct committee’s role to ORRA and continued as chairperson until the Annual General Meeting in August 2024.
She did not stand for re-election for health reasons.
ORRA is one of the most active and most effective community groups on the Central Coast
A spokesperson said this was largely due to Willard’s leadership and drive, which had ensured ORRA provided a voice to Ourimbah residents, particularly in local government matters.
“She has been passionate about advocating for local residents,” the spokesperson said.
“A big factor in this success was forming strong working relationships with key councillors and local state members over (her) 25 years in this role.”
Willard said her major achievements included: running two community fairs and Carols by Candlelight in the mid-2000s; lobbying for the Ourimbah Skate Park and “dinosaur” playground in Bill Sohier Park; and in latter years being active in opposing inappropriate development such as the boarding houses in Glen and Burns Rds.
Her latest success for ORRA was getting the University of Newcastle to return the land where the Nissen Hut was located in Glen Rd to the community as a park.
“The community opposition to the Glen Rd boarding house which commenced in 2014 was a defining moment for ORRA as it galvanised people to become active in the community and generated a number of new members for the organisation,” Willard said.
Her other community involvement includes serving as a Justice of the Peace for more than 20 years and currently she is a member of the Ourimbah Hospital Auxiliary which raises much-needed funds for the region’s hospitals.
“I’m hopeful that ORRA will continue to provide an avenue for the Ourimbah community to have a voice in local government affairs,” Willard said.
“With the election of a new council in September, we hope and trust Central Coast Council can be restored and that council decisions will be more transparent and responsive to community concerns.”
The new chairperson of ORRA is Debra Mason, who was elected at the AGM on August 7.
She said she had large shoes to fill following the legacy left by Willard after a quarter of a century of service to the Ourimbah community.
ORRA meets on the first Wednesday of every month at Bill Sohier Park Community Hall at 7.30pm.