Temora’s 2020 Hidden Treasures Recognised
Published on 29 October 2020
The Hidden Treasures Honour Roll is updated annually to pay tribute to rural women who play important volunteer roles in their local communities.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke today presented certificates and flowers to three Temora women who have been nominated to the honour roll this year.
Ms Cooke said all three women, Ruth Fritsch, Pat Thomas and Ailsa Sinclair, have made an enormous contribution to the Temora Community and it is an honour to be here today to celebrate this achievement.
“Congratulations to these three extremely deserving women who said such a high standard.
“Our community wouldn’t be the same without the dedication and service of volunteers like Ruth, Pat and Ailsa”.
Ruth Fritsch has been fostering a love for music and singing to students in Temora and surrounding areas for more than 50 years. She organised the annual fundraiser for the Malcolm Sargent Foundation, donating a tremendous amount of her time to pull it all together.
Ruth was also a founding member of the Temora Arts Council, donated her time to accompany many people attending Eisteddfods and cooked for street stalls to assist local schools. She is an active member of many groups including the National Party, Friends of Temora Cemetery, Temora Rural Museum, Open Door Bookshop and the Lutheran Church.
Ruth was awarded Citizen of the Year in 2012 and has received a mayoral citation in recognition of her amazing contribution to the community.
Pat Thomas has spent years raising awareness of those living with special needs. The mother of four is the founding and current member of the Temora Special Persons and Carers Group. She was President for many years and has spent her life tirelessly working toward a succession plan for vulnerable citizens in the community, fundraising and creating a special environment.
Pat is a carer herself and understands first-hand the challenges faced. She is a truly deserving nominee.
Born in 1930 and raising five children on the farm, Ailsa Sinclair helped make ends meet by raising chickens for egg production and selling eggs to the Temora Egg Marketing Board; raising turkeys and meat birds for sale locally; milked cows, separating milk and cream to sell; feeding poddy lambs and calves. Ailsa also supported her husband Peter when he took on the job of President of Rotary.
Ailsa has also found to time to be involved in many community groups and committees including the school P&C, Dirnaseer Country Women’s Association, Spastic Centre (Cerebral Palsy Alliance); Temora Presbyterian Church, catering and fundraising; Temora View Club; Temora Branch of the National Party; Temora Probus; Temora Rural Museum; Temora Hospital; Meals and Wheels’ Show Society; Temora Rotary Club and more – an impressive list.
The Hidden Treasures Honour Roll is an initiative of the NSW Government Department of Primary Industries’ Rural Women’s Network which recognises and promotes the valuable role of rural women volunteers in NSW and has captured the inspirational stores of more than 900 women since its inception in 2010.
Caption: Ruth Fritsch, Pat Thomas, Steph Cooke and Ailsa Sinclair