A wise man once said "your value is to your community."
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That man was Raymond Alfred Robert Green and his words have been lived to the letter by his daughter Judith Green MBE OAM.
In fact, Judith could boast excelling at the advise of her father during her lifetime that has spanned 100 years.
However, Judith who celebrated her centenary on January 12, is not one to boast.
Humility, hard work, excellence and dedication are the qualities that have been the drive behind this woman who has played an integral, and often formative role, in many Southern Highlands community initiatives over the past century.
And her community-minded reach has also been linked to many other projects further afield.
Judith is without a doubt an inspiration.
I met her in 2009 when I did a story about her involvement in the Royal Agricultural Society and in particular, Moss Vale Show.
She was a delight to chat with, her passion for what she did was inspiring, her knowledge was impressive and the respect she garnered from others was completely deserved.
When I did that story I was overwhelmed at how I would do her and her achievements in the show society justice.
But as we sat and chatted about her life in more detail, as part of her 100th birthday celebration, I realised we had previously only scratched the surface of the achievements of this wonderful lady.
Judith, in her ever-memorable austere manner, kept apologising for taking up my time. I kept wondering how I could find more time to sit and chat longer.
The eldest child of Raymond Green, a doctor, and Eleanor Grant-Green, Judith was born in Redfern on January 12, 1920.
She was born into a family generous of time and heart so it is not surprising Judith has given both in abundance throughout her life.
Her grandfather, Alfred (AW) Green, was involved in the formation of the Department of Child Welfare and Renwick Children's home in Mittagong.
And she is quick to point out that her doctor father frequently offered his medical services without payment.
Judith enlisted in the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) in 1942. Her qualifications as a social worker resulted in her being appointed, by the British Commonwealth Overseas Force (BCOF), as the Captain of Social Services on an Island off Kobe, Japan, for two years, largely repatriating Australian servicemen following World War II.
Her service in Japan was followed by a career path as head social worker at Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital (now Westmead) for more than a quarter of a century, before moving to live in the Southern Highlands where she took on the role of social worker at Bowral and District Hospital.
She was responsible for the care and/or placement of more than 100 orphaned children transferred to Royal Alexandra Hospital from orphanages in Vietnam following the end of the Vietnam war. They were transferred into Australian care under an agreement between the Australian and Vietnamese governments.
"They came tagged with a baggage label, but no names or birth dates," she said. "Some even died on the plane and my first duty was to them."
Judith said that some were adopted into new families, others were "so damaged" they never found a new home.
Her work was recognised with a Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1977.
Judith said that while she was working at Bowral Hospital she recognised a need for interim support for people between hospital and their return home. With this in mind she became an instigator in the formation of the Foundation of Harbison. She now calls Harbison Bowral home.
Judith's skill and generosity was not only confined to social work.
As a teen she developed a love of rural life and horse riding which ultimately led to her making her home in the Southern Highlands where she immersed herself in the Royal Agricultural Society.
She was president of the Group 5 of the Agircultural Society's Council of NSW, which has overall responsibility for 118 Show Societies across the state. She also held many key roles including president, head steward, public officer and life member for both the Bowral and Moss Vale Show Societies.
She still proudly carries the honour of patron of both Moss Vale Show Society and Group 5.
Judith's commitment to community did not stop there. She was integral in the formation of the Wingecarribee Meals on Wheels, she is a life member of Berrima Pony Club in recognition of her service, has previously been president of the Wingecarribee Adult Day Care Centre, vice president of the Illawarra Family Support Service, a member of the Bowral branch United Hospital Auxiliaries and the list continues.
She joined the Berrima District Historical Society in 1998 and in 1999, she was elected to the museum sub-committee and for the next 16 years, until 2015, served as one of its most enthusiastic and valued members. She was elected to the management committee of BDHS in 2002, and in 2003 she became vice president, a position she held until 2008.
In 2001 she received the Centenary Medal for service to rural business, produce, and encouraging leadership in young women and in 2004 was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community through the NSW Meals on Wheels Association and to the community of the Southern Highlands.
It seems that Judith's commitment of time and skill within community groups and projects has been almost limitless.
In fact at the age of 99.5 years she joined the Moss Vale branch of the Evening CWA and assisted with the the purchase, labeling and packaging of clothes for the Children's Hospital Foundation at Westmead.
Judith celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends organised by the Bowral Show Society on January 12. Representatives from every show society in Group 5 were honoured to attended the celebration.