The long running secretary of Friends of Daylesford’s Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens Patrice O’Shea received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to the environment and secondary education in the King’s Birthday Honours list.
Patrice has a long standing love of the the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens and surrounding countryside. Following her retirement in 2009 she joined the Friends of Wombat Hill Gardens where she has been secretary since 2010.
Over that time the Friends have made an enormous contribution to the garden. They have funded a number of garden projects and lifted the garden’s profile with the Council and the community, advocating for its maintenance and development.
The fundraising, garden projects and weekly activities including weeding and pulling out blackberries give the volunteer group a chance to contribute to the community by maintaining the historic and beautiful gardens.
Patrice has been much loved and admired driving force in the Friends activities.
Patrice is also honoured for her contribution to secondary education. She taught at Ballarat Grammar for nearly three decades as an English and history teacher. She led a school house and became assistant head of the school.
The Wombat Post congratulates Patrice on her well deserved honour.
