A Mareeba woman dubbed the outback angel for her work in rural and remote communities has received a Medal (OAM) in the General Division in today’s Australia Day honours.
Sandy Kelly, 74, admits she was “blown away” when she received official advice that she had been awarded an OAM for service to indigenous communities in North Queensland.
“I cried,” Ms Kelly said. “It’s the single highest award an individual can receive.
“I love what I do, its my calling. I love helping people and animals.”
Nominated by her best friend, Ms Kelly boasts an impressive working resume.
She was a mentor with the Indigenous Jobs Connections in Cairns, delivered Cert III in Aged Care/Home and Community Care and was a facilitator for Home and Community Care (HACC) Courses and aged care on Cape York, Torres Strait and in the Gulf of Carpentaria for the Queensland Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Education Program Aboriginal Corporation (QATSIHWEPAC), 2008-2012.
Between 2003 and 2005, Ms Kelly was coordinator at the Coen Regional Aboriginal Corporation.
She was coordinator at Pacific Lifestyle Options on Palm Island and Townsville from 2002-2003 and coordinated frontier services, Uniting Church Australia, 2001-2002; Coordinator, North West Isolated Care, Mount Isa, 1993-2001.
Ms Kelly said her time at Coen was particularly memorable.
“When I was working in Coen I was employed to try and save HAAC services,” Ms Kelly said.
“I had three of the most wonderful aboriginal staff and after 18 months we received the Excellence in Care award.
“It was wonderful, given we were a little tiny HAAC service, and because we had nothing.
“We went from nearly losing the service to working together to save it.”
Ms Kelly has also found time to volunteer for various organisations including TAFE as an English tutor, Mareeba Meals on Wheels, Lions Club of Mareeba, Mareeba Animal Refuge, Australian Volunteers International and Queensland Seventh Day Adventist Church.
