Shy and modest would be the best way to describe Order of Australia Medal recipient, Mrs Faye Oakley of Tuross Head who has devoted her life to serving the community.
Mrs Oakley was one of two Eurobodalla citizens to receive the prestigious Queens birthday honour.
"I feel happier considering this award as being for Tuross Head as well as for myself," she said.
Faye received her award for service to the community of Tuross Head through church, aged care and emergency services organisations.
Currently a member of the Tuross Head Progress Association, Tuross Head Community Aid and Tuross Head Preservation Group, Faye said 'she was saddened that the gentleman who nominated her, Warren Buchan was no longer with us'.
Faye is well known in Tuross Head for her community library.
When Faye moved to Tuross Head in 1978 with her husband Max and two children Murray aged 12 and Samantha aged five, there was no library so Faye set about creating one.Today Faye say's she has about eight thousand books in her library collection.
"More like fifteen thousand," reckons Faye's husband Max.
In fact Faye's library has grown to such big proportions that she has 12 volunteers who help her out.
Faye has always loved reading and music and it was when she was listening to the children of Moruya and Bodalla Public Schools read, that she first met Noel Worry.
Noel who was involved with the Eurobodalla Community Radio invited Faye to join the station providing Faye with a ‘wonderful interest' for the next 18 years.
You can hear Faye's ‘easy listening' music request show on 2EAR FM every Sunday from 2.30pm.
Over the years Faye has assisted with volunteer work with Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels Co-operative devoting 35 years to the service.
She has also been a member of the Tuross Head View Club and a volunteer with the Tuross Head Rescue Squad.
Faye is a member of St Andrew's Church of Tuross Head since she moved to Tuross and member of the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn and Anglican Ladies Guild for 25 years.
"The most important community work I consider I do," Faye said, "is to endeavour to keep the elderly folk in their own homes for as long as possible by being a friend."
Faye offers help with emergency services and assists by providing people with transport to the doctor, shopping, voting and buses.
"I also provide the odd book or two, but mostly I offer friendship," she said.
Faye, grandmother of 12, rises at 5am each day ‘so she can get everything done'. She is very modest and unassuming of her community work and credits much of it to hubby Max.
"I would like to thank my husband Max for his patience."
"I would also like to thank the wonderful people of Tuross Head, Community Aid who have given me a cheque each year for new books for the library," she said.
Faye's community library is open on Wednesday's from 3pm to 4.30pm and Friday's from 2pm to 4.20pm.
The other Eurobodalla resident to make it onto the Queen's Birthday Honours list this year is Moruya Rural Brigade captain and central deputy group officer, Bruce Smith.
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