Heather Mann an OAM in 2019 Australia Day honours.

Now her volunteer efforts have been recognised, and she has been named on the 2019 Australia Day honours list as a recipient of the Order of Australia Medal. 

Mrs Mann said she was extremely surprised to hear that she was nominated for the OAM, and honoured to have been selected for it.

“I just thank the person who nominated me, who thought that I would have been worthy of this,” she said.

Mrs Mann’s involvement spans decades and numerous community groups and organisations. 

She has given her time to work at Havannah House and serve on the boards of Forbes District Hospital, Forbes Bowling Club and Forbes TAFE.

She has served as a volunteer at Forbes Christian Bookshop, Jemalong Retirement Village and as a Volunteer Driver.

In her former role as a volunteer driver, she travelled to Orange with elderly community members to medical appointments.

One of the inaugural board members of Lachlan House With No Steps, Mrs Mann said fostering a positive dialogue about and with people with disabilities is a start to getting involved.

Since 2001, Mrs Mann has given her time as a volunteer with Kairos Outside for Women Prison Ministry, supporting women who have family or friends in prison, and supporting the Kairos Prison Ministry by working in the kitchen.

The Australia Day honours nomination came out of the blue for the quiet achiever, who said she never would have thought of being recognised for her work as she enjoys what she does.

Growing up in Bedgerabong and going to high school in Forbes, Heather has remained in this area and become involved in her community because of the amazing and friendly people that live here.

The best advice she has for people wanting to get involved in volunteering is to have have a go.

“Try it and you will meet up with people you don’t know and they will become family.”

Heather’s brother Dr Bill Peasley was named an OAM in 2015.