A woman who has dedicated the past 17 years of her life to helping residents of the Tomaree Peninsula battling breast cancer has been named the 2020 Port Stephens Local Woman of the Year.
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Taurie Lalor, who has been a member of the Tomaree Breast Cancer Support Group since 2003, received the recognition at an International Women's Day breakfast hosted by Paterson MP Meryl Swanson and Port Stephens MP Kate Washington in Williamtown on Monday.
"Taurie is someone who has worked quietly for a long time, supporting people in the community. Taurie and her team have done tremendous work in the community and I wanted to recognise that," Ms Washington said.
As part of the annual International Women's Day celebrations, women across NSW like Ms Lalor are awarded for their commitment to improving the communities in which they live by their local member for parliament.
Ms Lalor started driving for the Nelson Bay-based not-for-profit support group in 2003.
In the years since she has held the positions of treasurer, vice president and president. She was elected president of the group in 2012, a position she held until the start of this month (March).
Speaking at the International Women's Day breakfast on Monday morning, Ms Lalor said she was honoured to accept the award but did so on behalf of all the group's volunteers who "have worked so hard with our breast cancer patients" on the Tomaree Peninsula.
"We have assisted over 300 people with two being men and far too many being under 50 years of age," Ms Lalor said. "We are always looking for volunteers."
Contact the group through tomareebreastcancersupport.com.au.