One of the many unsung heroes of the Illawarra has been recognised for her remarkable role as a mother, wife and mentor to so many members of the community.
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Margaret Purcell of Warilla was one of four finalists celebrated at the NSW Barnardos Mother of the Year awards on Monday.
Nominated by her daughter Lauren, Mrs Purcell and her husband John founded The DENNY Foundation, a not-for-profit charity aimed at helping people affected by mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction, poverty and homelessness.
"It was a privilege and an honour to be with these [finalists], they were all amazing women in their own right and personally I think every mum is an amazing woman in their own right," Mrs Purcell said.
"It's the best job in the world but it's also the most painful job in the world but if you hang in there, forging forward, you get the victories and they're the things that you hold onto when you have tough times."
The Purcells lost their beloved son and brother Denny 15 years ago after a long battle with mental illness.
"Eight years ago, my husband was diagnosed with cancer and given only 18 months to live."
With a now-or-never mentality born out of her husband's diagnosis, the Purcells decided the foundation was a fitting way to pay tribute to Denny's memory while endeavouring to help those in similar situations.
Previously living in the Hunter Valley, the Purcells chose to relocate and establish the charity in the Illawarra.
"There was no help, really, around mental health back then," Mrs Purcell said.
"We brought the charity back here to the local area where we had a bit of support for him and to be able to give back on behalf of Denny.
"That life plagued Denny, illness plagued him. It followed him around. Over the years you can either wallow in self-pity over this or we could turn a negative into a positive and that's what we chose to do."
Mrs Purcell listened on Monday as her daughter Lauren read of her mother's achievements to the packed crowd at Sydney's Parliament House.
"There are nights when she does not sleep because the local police have called her out to assist with a teen known to her that they have taken into custody."
Lauren spoke of Christmas Day in the Purcell household, where Mrs Purcell would throw a party for those who had nowhere else to go, ensuring they didn't spend the day alone.
The state winner of the Barnardos Mother of the Year was Sidona Hodge, a proud Indigenous mother of three adult children, and grandmother of three, who has fostered more than 20 Indigenous children and currently has seven under the age of 15 years in her care.
