Her humility, kindness and determination have made her a trusted and deeply respected presence in the town.
This year, Carol was recognised with Rutherglen’s Town and District Certificate of Achievement at the 2026 Australia Day Awards.
She said she was proud and humbled to receive the certificate and thanked the Rutherglen community for their Australian spirit and support.
Since arriving in Rutherglen in 1985 with her husband Peter and their young family, Carol has immersed herself in local life, stepping in wherever help was needed and strengthening community spirit through her generosity, leadership and unwavering commitment to others.
One of Carol’s earliest contributions was helping establish the town’s three year old kindergarten and toy library, initiatives that supported young families and filled important gaps in local services.
She went on to play a key role in the VicSwim program and the Rutherglen Swimming Club, assisting with early morning training sessions and providing breakfast for young swimmers.
Carol’s service to St Stephen’s Anglican Church spans more than 30 years, including long standing roles on the Parish Council, six years as treasurer, and many years as Rector’s Warden.
She coordinated the Anglican Debutante Ball for three decades, supporting close to 600 young people to make their debut, and helped establish the monthly Community Dinner.
She also helped set up the town’s Op Shop, now a thriving Main Street fixture, and has served as its coordinator for the past five years.
Carol and her daughter Kellie participated in Relay for Life for four years, once raising the highest team total, and she has contributed extensively to the Sunshine Walk, organising raffles, trivia nights and other events to support the Albury Cancer Centre.
In recent years, Carol has brought the same energy and heart to the Rutherglen Golf Club. After taking up golf herself, she quickly became an integral part of the club’s revival, serving as vice president, handicapper, cleaner, event organiser and all round volunteer.
Her leadership helped bring men’s and women’s competitions together, creating a more inclusive and welcoming club culture. The club’s membership has grown from 68 to nearly 180 members, a change many attribute in part to Carol’s efforts.
She is known for quietly helping neighbours, driving community members to appointments, supporting struggling clubs across the region, and stepping in whenever she sees a need.
In 2023, Carol was awarded the Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, one of the organisation’s highest honours, recognising her outstanding service to the community.
Despite decades of contribution, she has never sought recognition or reward; for Carol, giving back is simply part of who she is.
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