• Something to celebrate: Simon Besacier, Margaret Lesley Haycroft OAM and former local Jayde Clements celebrate in France. Simon fell in love with Jayde after visiting Australia.
FOR Margaret Haycroft the news that she was to be awarded an order of Australia was hard to come to terms with.
Speaking on the phone from France, the former owner of the Foster Post Office said when she received the official letter from Government House in Canberra she was perplexed.
“When I saw I had been nominated for an Australia Day award, I wondered whether they didn’t have the wrong person. When I realized it was for me, I wondered whether it wasn’t saying I had nominated someone for an Australia Day award,” she said.
“I’d organized Australia Day events before, so that sort of made sense. But I knew I hadn’t nominated anyone. It really took a few tries before I came to terms with the fact it was for me.”
Margaret admits to feeling “very embarrassed” at the recognition – along with being sad that her husband Harley, who passed away in September 2016 wasn’t alive to share the moment with her.
“In the end I’m proud to accept it on behalf of the Corner Inlet community. We came to the area 35 years ago, leaving everything behind. But we built a relationship with people and became part of the community,” she said.
“You can only be part of the community if people accept you. You can only do what the community supports you to do.”
Margaret said she was inspired to volunteer by her parents, Jack and Eunice. Eunice also received an Order of Australia 20 years ago. “They really were mentors for me, showing me that it was natural and normal to want to do something for the community,” she said.
“Mum will join me at the presentation later in the year, along with my daughter, Victoria. My one regret at this time is that my husband Harley, who was my support and encouragement for 32 years, and chose Foster as our home,cannot be here to share this with me.”
Margaret said that being part of the Australia Day committee from the first year of her arrival in the area, along with working with Bill Crawford, Ken Coghlan and many others “introduced me to the range of community groups and organisations in Corner Inlet”.
“Their input into community life strengthens and enlivens our people, old and young, and is one reason so many retire to the area,” she said.
“The Foster Show also highlights so much of what is great in the area and it is so much fun to be involved in the events and activities of the day.
“Story time with children is not just enjoyable, but a very important stage of learning and development I am proud to be part of.”
CV of Margaret Lesley Haycroft OAM:
- Justice of the Peace No. 10363 since 1996
- Community Committees:
- Chair – Corner Inlet Uniting Church Council 25 years (non-consecutive)
- Foster Kindergarten President’
- Foster Primary School Parents Club
- Foster Brownies – Committee and Leader
- Australia Day Committee – 32 years
- Foster Chamber of Commerce
- South Gippsland Secondary College magazine editor – two years
- “What’s On” community events column contributor for The Mirror – three years
- School holiday activities, including story time – eight years.
Foster.vic.au feed
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