This was how Gloria Howells of the Hawks Nest ladies Auxiliary explained life member Connie MacDonald, and it is a sentiment shared by our community about the influential resident.

Over 130 people attended a memorial service for Mrs MacDonald on Saturday following her death on December 30 last year.

Mrs Howells said Mrs MacDonald’s passing has left a hole in the Auxiliary service.

“She had people skills galore and was generous to a fault and was very strong but always nice and kind of heart,” she said.

“She was more than willing to do what the sub branch wanted to do and the president always knew he had her full support.”

The tireless Auxiliary and Red Cross member was involved with the charities the majority of her life and contributed to the fundraising of various community initiatives including the RSL touch and tell monument.

“She was always working, giving and making things for fundraisers and charity events. Last year we had a garden party at her home for the touch and tell which she worked very hard for.”

“We raised $6,500 in one year for the monument, it was as much her passion as it was Ron Franks and she was so proud that it was there,” Mrs Howells said.

In response to her many contributions to the community Mrs MacDonald was awarded the 2007 Senior Citizen of the Year, the Centenary Medal in 2001 and was the Hawks Nest Lioness Citizen of the Year. After holidaying in the region as a child Mrs MacDonald moved to Hawks Nest when her last husband, Warren MacDonald retired in the late seventies.

Mrs MacDonald’s daughter, Cathryn Gibson said her mother was passionate about Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens and it’s residents.

“Not only because she retired here but her long association since coming as a girl there was nowhere else in Australia that she would have preferred to retire,” she said.

“She was an extremely kind and caring person and very loyal to her friends and just a wonderful mother and grand mother.”