Launceston retiree Carol Fuller says she could never truly give up working for her community.
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The 68-year-old volunteer has been announced as a finalist in the 2017 Tasmanian Australian of the Year Awards.
Ms Fuller was nominated in the Senior Australian of the Year category for her ongoing contribution to her local community.
The former Launceston College vice principal and assistant superintendent of the Northern Education Region taught primary, secondary and tertiary education.
Since retiring, Ms Fuller has taken on various volunteering roles including the Launceston Historical Society, the Zonta Club of Launceston, Launceston White Ribbon committee and the Children’s Book Council of Australia.
“I’m a bit gobsmacked actually, it sort of hasn’t sunk in yet,” Ms Fuller said.
“It’s a tremendous honour, and a compliment that there are people out there who have noticed the work I do in the community … I can think of many other people who are just as worthy of this.
“When you get involved with community service, you don’t think about the accolades, what you think about is how good it feels to be able to help other people. The satisfaction is in knowing you’re contributing to a better society.”
Ms Fuller said she believed her history as a teacher was the inspiration behind her passion for helping future generations.
“My mum and dad brought me up to believe that what you get out of your community you should put back into it, which sadly I think is not often passed onto children by their parents now, and I just know that unless each generation puts work into the younger generation, society isn’t going to get any better,” she said.
“It’s hard work, I often hear myself saying I’m going to have to retire from retirement so I can have some time off. [But] there is just so much work that needs to be done in our community.”
National Australia Day Council chief executive Chris Kirby said the Tasmanian finalists were among 131 Australians being recognised as state and territory finalists in the national awards.
“The Tasmanian Award finalists are making a difference in a hugely diverse range of areas, and are going the extra mile to make a contribution, to help others or to create a better future for us all,” Mr Kirby said.
The Tasmanian winners will be announced on Friday November 11 at Government House in Hobart.
The national awards will be held in Canberra on January 25, 2017.