A much loved elder of the Walcha community, Shirley Davison, died peacefully last week in Tamworth Hospital surrounded by her family.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Shirley had been battling cancer for a long time and a celebration of her life will be held in the Anglican Hall following a service in the Anglican Church at 2pm on Thursday, December 18.
Shirley Norma Davison (Aunty Shirley) was a well known and much loved member of the Walcha community and she was usually the first one contacted to officiate the Welcome to Country part of important local ceremonies.
Born in Port Macquarie 78 years ago, Shirley moved to Walcha with her parents as a young girl and, apart from a decade away owing to her partner (of 53 years) Neville’s work, she lived here all her life.
In 2012 Shirley was announced as a recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the Walcha region, particularly through the Amaroo Local Aboriginal Land Council.
Sadly Neville passed away just before the OAM announcement following a long battle with cancer.
While the announcement of the award came at a sad time for Shirley she still managed to stay positive saying at the time: “I am very proud of my little achievements and was totally surprised when I found out about the award. I never expect or ask for any recognition, but people keep nominating me for awards, and it is always lovely to receive them.”
Aunty Shirley worked for more than 37 years in community service and during that time received many awards, particularly in the last decade.
In 1999 the NSW Society for all Ages International Year of Older Persons Award was presented to Shirley by Walcha mayor at the time, Len Woods, in recognition of her contribution to the Walcha community.
In 2001 Shirley received a Centenary Medal awarded by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to commemorate the Centenary of the Federation of Australia with a certificate signed by Prime Minister John Howard.
In 2006 Shirley was given the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs Local Hero Award for Aboriginal People for her untiring contribution to her people in the area of community wellbeing.
In 2008 Shirley was announced as the Walcha Australia Day Citizen of the Year at the local Australia Day Awards Ceremony and that same year she received the Department of Education and Training, New England Region Giyanha Dirrabuu Murri Award for outstanding contribution to education achievement by a community member. Giyanha Dirrabuu Murri is a Gamilaraay word meaning ‘future outstanding Aboriginal’.
In 2009 the NSW Schools Nangamai Award for an outstanding contribution by a community member celebrating excellence in aboriginal education and training, was given to Shirley.
She was also presented with an award for excellence in indigenous education and training from the Regional Director of the Department of Education and Training.
Shirley remained active in the community right until the end attending a Walcha Council Community Care Advisory Committee meeting and Christmas party the week before she passed away.
