SERVING the community through her work with the Red Cross has been a passion for half a century for Sue Robinson.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A member of the Port Fairy Red Cross Unit, Mrs Robinson is to be presented with a 50-year service medallion in early November.
Mrs Robinson said the achievement has snuck up on her.
“I can’t believe its been 50 years, it has gone so quick,” Mrs Robinson said.
“Being part of the Red Cross is very much a community thing. But the other great thing about it is the work you do can to also help on a state, national or international level.”
Mrs Robinson’s association with the Red Cross begun through some family inspiration.
Her grandmother had been heavily involved in the Red Cross in the Gundagui/Wagga Wagga area of New South Wales.
She recalls hearing of her grandmother’s contribution which included serving as a Red Cross Unit president and other duties such as knitting for troops in World War Two.
Her time in the Red Cross began in 1966 when she joined the Framlingham unit after her marriage to well known local farmer Jim Robinson.
The aim was to get to know those in the farming community. Not only did she achieve that but she also helped the unit in a number of community projects that included the Red Cross Calling appeal, holding cake stalls and running raffles.
Her most challenging time came with the Ash Wednesday fires in 1983.
Mrs Robinson was the Red Cross regional vice-president at the time of the fires.
The Red Cross played a large part in assistance and relief during the fires, a task that was made very difficult given the properties of members were under threat.
The Robinsons lost their property in the fire, but that didn’t stop Mrs Robinson working hard to support the community during and after the fires had ripped through.
“Ruth Schultz from Caramut was the regional president at the time and she did such amazing work helping people recovery from the fires,” Mrs Robinson said.
“It was a tough time for everyone but it did show what an important part the Red Cross can do to help in little ways.”
As well as her work with Red Cross, Mrs Robinson also had a productive career as a nurse.
Still an active member of Red Cross, Mrs Robinson is proud of her time in the organisation.
“It’s been very rewarding and I still really enjoy it,” Mrs Robinson said.
“I have met a lot of people and we have done some good work for the community.”