Helensburgh treasure Bede Parkes was born a few streets away from where she still lives today, the youngest of nine children.
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By the time she was seven her mother, Annie May Collins, had been widowed for the second time, and it was up to all the kids to pitch in.
"She went out washing and ironing and scrubbing floors for us," Mrs Parkes said.
"She looked after us as well as she could and if mum wanted help, everybody was there. If I can help someone, it just makes life easier for them. I do enjoy it. I kind of don't do it to get any praise or anything, I do it because I like helping people and they appreciate what I do."
Mrs Parkes is being recognised with an OAM for her life's service to the Helensburgh community. She manned the White Elephant Stall at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School Fete for 40 years and volunteered for her Holy Cross Catholic Church her whole life. She has raised money for the local branch of the RSL, the RFS, Helensburgh Junior Ruggby League. and Widows and Veterans Entitlements Service 2508 Inc.
Her own hour of need arrived last year, when she was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour. A fundraising page sprung up online for the lady everyone knew, who was "always raffling outside Coles in any type of weather".
The page raised well more than the $5000 it set out to.
Now cancer-free, Mrs Parkes sees herself as a product of her surrounds.
"Anyone in need: you can count on Helensburgh," she said, with pride.