Published: 18 May 2022

There’s few who would disagree that the Narooma community is a better place to live because of Dr Jenny Munro AM. The well-loved former GP, volunteer and philanthropist was today named Eurobodalla’s 2022 Local Hero at a ceremony at the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden.

Dr Munro’s dedication to service didn’t slow when she retired from medicine after working in the Narooma community since the 1970s.

Now president of the Narooma Chamber of Commerce, she has organised multiple events that celebrate community spirit, bringing people together after bushfires and lockdowns and honouring local achievement.

Her Lighthouse Foundation provides scholarships for local students to study medicine, and her support for Indigenous students is notable.

In receiving the award, a “shocked” Dr Munro said she’d had a wonderful career, but had also enjoyed community work without the professional barrier that comes with being a GP.

“I thought once my career was over this was an opportunity to put back into the community,” she said.

“I haven’t done anything I haven’t loved. I just want to stay well enough to keep on doing it.”

There were 14 nominees for the Local Hero Award, a Eurobodalla Council initiative that honours people in the community who regularly go above and beyond during National Volunteer Week.

This year in addition to the winner, Norm Moore, Kathryn Maxwell and Peter Ryan received highly commended awards. Mr Moore was posthumously commended for his work in passionately researching, compiling, and presenting Moruya’s rich history for decades. Ms Maxwell was commended for her commitment to transitioning Eurobodalla to a low carbon economy and building climate resilience through the South Coast Health and Sustainability Alliance. Mr Ryan was recognised for his dedication to rugby union in Batemans Bay for the past 30 years and his tireless work as a volunteer during the fires.

Eurobodalla Mayor Mathew Hatcher – himself named Local Hero in 2020 - praised all the nominees.

“It warms me so much to be among people in this community who put their hands up constantly. Your nomination today is a testament to all the work you do for the shire and the people in it,” he said.

“We’ll continue to work together to leave a legacy of optimism for the generations to come.”

The 2022 Local Hero Award nominees were:

• Christina Allen
• Mylene Boulting & Fitzroy Boulting
• Patricia Ellis
• Jy Fraser
• Kathryn Maxwell
• Norman Moore (posthumous award)
• Dr Jenny Munro, AM
• Joy Overs
• Lei Parker
• Melissa Ralston
• Peter Ryan
• Jenny Scott
• Lyn Sterling
• Louise Webb

Mayor Hatcher also paid tribute to and thanked the freshly minted members of Council’s advisory committees, who were invited to attend the event. They will volunteer their time to represent the community’s views to Council in the areas of Aboriginal culture, disability inclusion, coastal and environmental management, heritage and public art, as well as those who provide independent oversight of Council processes through the audit, risk and improvement committee.

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