When asked how she felt about being made an officer of the Order of Australia (OAM) on Monday, Margaret Dearricott laughed and said she was “delighted” for Kyneton to have another OAM in the bag.
Ms Dearricott was recognised for service to the community of Kyneton, where she has lived for 40 years.
The list of her services is hefty too. Since 2004, she’s been secretary of the gorgeous Kyneton Daffodil and Arts Festival and a Kyneton Connect committee member, editing their newsletter since 2006.
Ms Dearricott became a life member of the Australian Labor Party in 2016, working as an electorate officer in Burke (1984-1996) and Ballarat (2003-2015), as well as secretary of the Kyneton branch.
She’s been in the Kyneton Zonta Club for 28 years, serving as president, treasurer, newsletter editor and charter member through the years.
“That’s been a great organisation working for women and families over that time,” she said.
Mr Dearricott was a founding member for the Friends of Kyneton Botanic Garden and served as publicity officer until 2019, and was former secretary of the Kyneton District Business and Tourism Association.
She volunteered for Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health from 1996 to 2003 and was former president of the Kyneton Primary Parents Club.
In 2011, Ms Dearricott was award a Macedon Ranges Shire Community Achievement Award and in 2001, a Centenary Medal for “community service including Skillshare, emergency housing, Cobaw Community Health and ’Zonta’”.
“If you can join together with other people – you don’t do things by yourself – everyone helps each other, which I think that’s a great thing in Kyneton,” Ms Dearricott said.
