COMMUNITY stalwart, the late Beverley Pepper, has been posthumously awarded in the Australia Day’s Honours List with a Medal of the Order of Australia for her dedication and commitment to the community, through her work with charity organisations throughout most of her life.

Born in Geelong, she moved to Merino as a primary school teacher and met and married Trevor Pepper from Tahara, which led to her involvement in many local organisations.

Her early community service included extensive involvement in the Anglican Church for which she was well known and held in high regard throughout Australia, including for her roles as a lay preacher, an honorary canon and her tenure as chairperson of the Diocese of Ballarat.

Mrs Pepper was also a Red Cross volunteer for more than 50 years, predominantly in the Tahara Red Cross.

Following retirement, Mrs Pepper moved to Coleraine and continued with her voluntary contribution to the community through her work for the Coleraine and District hospital, as a driver of the community bus – taking people to appointments, frequently visiting the aged in the Wannon Hostel aged care facility, regularly undertaking pastoral care of its residents as well as taking church services as a lay preacher.

Mrs Pepper had four children, John, David, Tim and Jenny.

“All she did, all her life, was voluntary work helping others,” son John said.

“It’s a shame that she didn’t quite live to receive this award in person but it’s still a great honour for her and all her family and we are all very proud of her,” he said.

Numbers will be restricted, but there will be family representation at the awards ceremony, to receive the medal on Mrs Pepper’s behalf at the Governor General’s residence, later this year.