The 86-year-old has been involved with the Red Cross since 1969, when it had its meetings in the memorial hall.

Ms Wellington, who moved to Hopetoun after getting married at 18, has been recognised with a medal of the Order of Australia in 2020 for her services to that community.

She has been treasurer for the Red Cross Branch since 1976, and has also served as publicity officer and secretary. Ms Wellington remembered the many functions the Red Cross performed for Hopetoun in her first few years of being involved with the organisation.

"In those days we did lots of things," she said. "We were medical custodians, so if anybody wanted crutches or anything like that, we had all that equipment at the hall and at our houses. If they wanted something special that would have to come up via train, or if people in their own homes needed something we would try and procure it.

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"I think that disappeared because of insurance and litigation. All our goodies were donated to the local hospital at the time. We also used to have clothing come up from the Red Cross people.

"If there was a disaster we were up the street collecting money. It just revolved around a small community trying to raise funds. There are only just a few of us at our meetings, but we are still holding up the front and everybody rallies around when there is something needed."

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Ms Wellington also set up the Junior Red Cross program at Hopetoun's St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in 1982. It continues to this day, something about which Ms Wellington is very pleased.

"It teaches children the principles of the Red Cross - caring for people. They raise money through their own incentives, like dress up or lolly days," she said. "Over the years they have probably raised $2000. A percentage of that goes to the Red Cross, and also to overseas missions and charities they are involved with."

Ms Wellington has also been a member of Hopetoun's Probus Club, volunteered with Meals on Wheels and fundraised for the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne across her lifetime. She has committed to helping this latter cause for 60 years.

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"It was always the publican that fundraised, but one year no one was doing it so I put my hand up and said I'd do it and I have been ever since," she said.

"I have tins in most of the businesses and I go around and collect them regularly. I try to aim for $5000 a year - everybody's very good when we have the usual raffle at Easter time. All the businesses are very good too - my family's fourth generation butcher shop (Wellington's) is very supportive.

She has seven children and 33 great-grandchildren. Her daughter Cheryl takes after her mother by competing in the annual Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal fun run with her children.

"(Fundraising) is just part of my life I think. I quite enjoy it and people know me," she said.

"I couldn't do it without the support of the town of course. They're the generous ones that give the money. I've found over the years, because I've been on most committees in the town, the relationships I've had with people have come through and if I'm involved in anything they are most generous."

Ms Wellington said she hoped to see more support for businesses in Hopetoun.

"We need to keep the town going. The people we have are very very loyal -they're into football and our lovely lake. We're very lucky with our young ones born here, it seems to be bred into them to support the town.

"We've had some success with quite a few people moving to town in that regard, but like most country towns, you've got to rely on the locals to do everything."

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