Two Lismore residents have been selected as recipients of the Queen’s Birthday Order of Australia Honours for 2021.

Mrs Carol Bonamy of McLeans Ridges for service to the community of the Lismore region, and the late Mr Darcy McFadden, formerly of Goonellabah for service to the community of Lismore. 

The Order of Australia recognises Australians who have demonstrated outstanding service or exceptional achievement.

Mrs Bonamy was initially surprised at learning she had been nominated for an OAM.

“I got an email a couple of months ago saying I’d been nominated.

“Then I got a letter in the mail from the Governor-General telling me I’ll be awarded a medal on Monday.

“I am really excited.

“It’s nice to be recognised.”

The passionate quilter said she has sewn all her life, yet it wasn’t until she discovered patchwork that she had a ‘Yeah! This is me!’ moment.

Mrs Bonamy got into patchwork with some friends wanting to learn and create something new and that is when the patchwork took off.

Mrs Bonamy wrapped up in one of her many quilts, saying it's like getting a big hug. Photo: Jacklyn Wagner

“Some friends and I got together and wanted to learn quilting.

“But we couldn’t find anyone teaching it, and one day a friend came in and said Carol! I’ve found a lady who will teach us so it started, telequilters,

because we all worked at telecom in the day.”

As a confessed ‘people person’ Carol said the community work is based around people. 

“Quilts for Kids is my main thing so this award is amazing and that working with like-minded people and seeing the joy in the kid's eyes when they get a quilt is so rewarding.

“I had time, and a lot of passionate people making quilts – there is a lady in her eighties in Ballina, still making quilts. 

“She said she can still sew … all her family have quilts, her friends have quilts, so she has given them to me to give to the kids.”

Mrs Bonamy coordinates her efforts with her quilting ladies to make quilts for sick children, palliative care, and the mental health units in the region's hospitals. 

As a 15-year veteran of the SES Mrs B is well known around the traps.

Many locals may well know her from her driving for Meals on Wheels or have heard her cheeky and vibrant personality on the Lismore partyline as part of her early days on the Lismore Telephone Exchange.

Awards and recognition include:

• Inductee, Hidden Treasures Honour Roll, Rural Women's Network, Department of Primary Industries, 2018.

Mr and Mrs Bonamy still volunteer in the community together.

“My husband still volunteers with me too, has supported me and thoroughly enjoys helping me help others. 

“If you’re feeling sad or a bit down, put a quilt around you because it’s like a big hug. They are made with love and you can really feel that.”

The Governor-General congratulated recipients on the Queen’s Birthday 2021 Honours List.

"Each of these individuals are unique and their story deserves to be shared widely and celebrated.

"They are examples of selflessness, commitment and dedication.

"This list includes the highest ever percentage of women (44 per cent) recognised through the General Division of the Order of Australia.

"It is important that the Order of Australia represents the diversity and strength of Australia – for this to happen we need to ensure outstanding women, members of our multicultural community and First Nations people are nominated by their peers in the community.

"I am prioritising increasing awareness of and engagement with the Order of Australia amongst groups that have been historically underrepresented.

"We are seeing positive progress and I am determined that it continues.

“To all Australians, I encourage you to consider nominating someone outstanding from your community for recognition.

"The great strength of our system is that it is ‘bottom-up’ – everyone recognised through the Order of Australia has been nominated by someone else, considered through an independent process and, today, celebrated by our nation."