It will also be her last. 

Her events have raised more than $30,000, but now she hopes to pass the mantle to someone else.

“I hope someone takes it over,” she said.

“I started it because there was no one doing it in Somerton and I thought we could put one on at the hall. The community gets involved and everybody helps.” 

The Somerton Biggest Morning Tea now attracts more than 100 people annually.

Mrs McGrath said she had not been personally touched by cancer but had friends and relatives who had.

“I just think it’s such a good cause,” she said.

Cancer Council NSW North’s Amelia Hamilton said the VIP launch of the event in Tamworth on Monday was a chance to thank people like Mrs McGrath and their other volunteers.

“Having hosts at the launch is another way of saying thank you to our volunteers, because we don’t always get to see everyone face-to-face,” she said.

“With hosts like Edna retiring, it’s a nice opportunity for the younger generation to get involved. Everybody likes to have morning teas and people can hold them in the workplace or at home.

“Some people make it a really big event and other people like to keep it really simple, but every dollar counts.” 

Ms Hamilton said all the money raised at Cancer Council events went back into local communities.

“The money hosts raise in this region provides facilities like Inala House. Anyone wanting to get involved and help out the community can do this – and for anyone who knows someone going through treatment, this is a lovely way to do something for them.”