When anyone in Bingara mentions caramel tarts, people immediately think of Marilyn Dixon OAM.
But there is more to ‘Mashie’ than the countless tarts she has made to raise funds for various community projects.
Marilyn’s many years of service to the Bingara community was recognised with the award of the Order of Australia Medal (OAM).
At the Australia Day breakfast at the Museum, Cr. Marilyn Dixon was presented with a basket of flowers from the community to celebrate the award.
Her fund-raising activities are widespread throughout the community, and many community organisations have benefited from her dedication. They include Bingara Lions Club, Swimming Club, Minor and Senior Rugby League Clubs, Ladies Auxiliary, Bingara and district Cancer Action Group, Friends of Touriandi Fund-raising Group, Anglican Church Fete Fund-raising Group, as well as other groups who have, from time to time, needed assistance.
Marilyn played a pinnacle role in fund-raising for local children with Cancer in 2004 where the community banded together to raise funds to ensure that these children were able to receive the treatment they needed.
[Photo: Bingara’s Australia Day Ambassador, Liz Deep-Jones, with Marilyn Dixon OAM.]Marilyn attributed her desire to help the community to the need to ‘give back’ after the Bingara community rallied to rebuild her family home when it burnt down when she was just 12.
Marilyn was elected to Gwydir Shire Council in 2012.
