Order of Australia Association, Queensland Branch
The three winners of the inaugural Senior Volunteer Award: Barry O’Driscoll, Marian Johnson, and Dorothy Jeffrey with ProfessorTony Webber AM, Michael Rayner AM, and Bruce Howden OAM.
The Senior Volunteer Award acknowledges and rewards Dorothy’s outstanding voluntary contributions to her community both in her own right and through the organisations with which she is associated.
Dorothy’s award recognises her contribution to the Queensland Family History Society in roles including a term as President, a member of the Publications Committee, and a representative of the Society at functions run by other organisiations. Dorothy has represented our Society at many, many of these functions, preparing material and selling our publications and other research material—at Government House Open Days, History Queensland fairs, Toowong Cemetery, and Enoggera and District Historical Society.
Her other involvement includes indexing primary records of Queenslanders; Dorothy has indexed over 520,000 records. She has also spent countless hours at the National and State Archives preparing material for indexing. Dorothy continues to index primary records.
Well known for her friendliness and genuine interest in others, Dorothy has assisted many members with their research problems. She recently assisted members at a workshop to improve their online research skills.
Beyond the Queensland Family History Society, Dorothy has contributed to the Boonah State School 125th reunion in 2003, the Newmarket State School centenary celebrations in 2004, and 150th anniversary of settlement in the Mitchelton district. She spent over 6 months collecting stories and photographs for the publication, Mitchelton Turns 150, launched at the Mitchelton Library in September, 2007.
Not content with this, the last few years Dorothy has added selling ANZAC badges to her long list of volunteer jobs in recognition of her late husband’s time in National Service. Well into her eighth decade, she shows no signs of reducing her voluntary work—a truly wonderful effort from a spritely and gracious lady who is well respected in family history and community circles. She represents the very highest values of an active, involved, community spirited, and, above all, a helpful and dedicated senior.
Read more about the Senior Volunteer Award