She didn't know it at the time but it ignited a lifetime passion for tennis, leading to her receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her dedication.

Mrs Stead has been involved with the Kiama Tennis Club, and Kiama and Shellharbour District Tennis Association for decades, and has the Stead Reserve at the Kiama tennis precinct named in her honour. She is a life member of both the club and association, while the Norma Stead Trophy for the association's Member of the Year was introduced in 2020.

Mrs Stead said she was "surprised" to receive an OAM.

"My reaction was just 'oh', I didn't carry on. I just went quiet," she said.

"My mum and dad both played tennis. My dad used to play with (Australian tennis champion) Harry Hopman. I've got a trophy of theirs that they won together, which I was very proud of.

"I won our school championships when I was about 12 at the public school in Berry. Then the war came along and put a bit of a stopper to tennis and all kinds of things, but I managed to play a bit of social tennis around the place. I've always been interested in tennis."

Mrs Stead's OAM also recognised her dedication to the Kiama community. She has been a long-time volunteer for the Kiama Knights Senior Rugby League Football Club, Kiama Evening VIEW Club, and Meals on Wheels.

"When I got married, I came to live in Kiama and loved it. My husband was in football and surf club and those sorts of things, so I helped run the canteen for the football club up at the showground, and catered for weddings and different things at the surf club," Mrs Stead said.

"I did Meals on Wheels and I'm involved in the VIEW Club, which I have been part of for 40 or 50 years. I've done all sorts of things."