Serving her community comes naturally to OAM recipient Betty Chittick.
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Jamberoo resident Ms Chittick has been recognised for service to the community of Kiama.
“I was brought up to do things for the community and be community-minded,” she said.
Winifred Elizabeth Chittick, 87, was born in Kiama Hospital and has lived most of her life in Jamberoo.
Ms Chittick was the recipient of Kiama council’s Citizen of the Year award in 2010.
She was also director of Blue Haven Retirement Village from 1974-1987; a board member and treasurer of Kiama District Hospital; and has been a volunteer at Kiama Family History Centre for 30 years, a role she still enjoys.
Ms Chittick has also served on the Kiama Show Society, having been a member since 1987, a life member and a former Miss Showgirl co-ordinator.
The former accountant said she hadn’t become involved in the community to gain recognition.
“I was shocked when they told me (about the OAM); it seems like a long time ago that I did all those things,” she laughed.
“I look back and see these lists, I wonder how I did all these things. But I got a lot of enjoyment out of it too.
“I’m not married, which is why I probably had more time to devote to community things.”
Ms Chittick has also been a vital member of the Kiama municipality’s sporting community.
Her CV includes being a member of South Coast Women's Hockey Association since 1968, where she is a life member.
She also has life membership of Jamberoo Golf Club, Jamberoo Combined Sports Association and Jamberoo Women's Hockey Club.
“Really I wasn’t very good at sport, but I think that’s probably why I got involved with the administration of sport.”
Ms Chittick said her uncle Gus received an OAM in the 1950s for services to the community and council.