community, Medal of the Order of Australia, Tooraweenah's Margaret Zell, margaret zell

DESCRIBED as an "outstanding and inspirational" volunteer, Tooraweenah's Margaret Zell has dedicated more than 60 years of her life to supporting countless people and organisations in the small but vibrant community. Fittingly, the dedicated local has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to Tooraweenah, in between Dubbo and Coonabarabran. Growing up at 'Cherrywood' in the Gilgandra Shire, Margaret moved to Tooraweenah in 1955 when she married her husband, Don. She became heavily involved in the Tooraweenah Public School through volunteering for the tuck shop, teaching scripture, driving the school bus and organising multiple fundraising activities. It is that love for cooking which she has carried with her throughout life, serving various executive positions at the Tooraweenah Country Women's Association, including president, secretary and treasurer. Read also: One of her standout roles, was the tireless work she put in to establish the Castlereagh Rural Financial Advisory Group in 1988 to support rural farming families and businesses during drought and ongoing difficult times. In 2003, she was awarded a Centenary Medal for service to local community - a moment her family described as "extremely special". She was also named in the Department of Primary Industries 2019 Hidden Treasures Honour Roll for services to the Gilgandra and Tooraweenah communities. Margaret was also a co-founding volunteer editor of the Toora Bungles Community Newsletter in the mid-1990s and member of the Tooraweenah Presbyterian Church for 60 years.

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