"Irene's community-mindedness is profound; there is no doubt she is deserving of the UHA's highest honour," Bellingen Auxiliary President Deb Anderson said.

"She is compassionate, kind, generous and a proud member of the UHA and our branch, and is focused on the welfare of our community's public hospital.

"She has always been a willing mentor to branch members and office bearers, and she promotes the work of the auxiliary in our community, encouraging residents to join and leads by example.

"Irene deserves this accolade, and we are all very proud of her achievements over many, many years."

Irene, the only Life Member recipient in the North Eastern Region this year, joined the UHA as a volunteer at Ryde Hospital in 1990.

She transferred to Bellingen Pink Auxiliary in 1993 and that year became branch president.

A name change followed (Bellingen Hospital and Pink Auxiliary), but the branch's focus remained firmly on patient and hospital welfare, as it has done for the past three decades.

Irene was a regular visitor at the Bellinger River District Hospital until COVID-19 resulted in volunteer services being suspended again recently as part of the regional lockdown.

She would shop for patients, more importantly, provided a friendly smile and kind words to those in the hospital.

Her connection with countless patients over the years complemented her fundraising commitment to the hospital, selling raffle tickets at UHA street stalls to help fund medical equipment for the hospital.

Irene Chesterman joins an elite Life Membership cohort that includes Bellingen's Nancy Hobson, a branch member for more than 40 years who also has the honour of being branch patron.

The award, usually presented by the NSW Governor, was supposed to be presented to Irene at the UHA's state conference in Orange, but COVID-19 restrictions have unfortunately seen the event cancelled.

The UHA will have to wait to celebrate Irene's Life Membership award until the North Eastern Regional Conference on the Mid North Coast next year, depending on COVID-19 restrictions.

However, the cancelled conference has not diminished the award's significance for the Bellingen volunteer described by her branch president Deb Anderson as "dedicated, energetic and tremendously valued".

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