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Myra Fay Woolley OAM

Tasmanian Honour Roll of Women logo
Myra Woolley

Awarded for service to the Community

Entered on roll: 2005


Myra Woolley was born in Cygnet and educated at the Cygnet Primary and District High Schools. Myra trained as a nurse at the St Johns Hospital in Hobart. She married in 1959 and has three children, twins (son and daughter) and another daughter. While working in the Royal Hobart Hospital Emergency Ward in 1966, Myra realised the devastating impact of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) on families and nursing staff. In 1978, she founded the Southern Branch of SIDS Tasmania.

Through the 1980s, Myra ran the Southern Branch and became involved with the State Board of Management, becoming State President. She continues as the State Vice President and manages the Southern Committee. In 1986, Myra became a Life Member and was nominated to the first National Board of SIDS Australia.

Myra has been involved with Red Nose Day since its inception in 1986, assisting with promotional and media events, annual launches and selling merchandise. She was awarded the Golden Nose Award in 1997 in recognition of her commitment. Myra was one of the instigators of the SIDS Memorial Garden at Glenorchy where a Memorial Service is held each year. She also undertakes educational work in the community, speaking to schools and service groups about the SIDS organisation.

After her retirement from nursing in 1994, Myra joined the Royal Hobart Hospital Northern Suburbs Auxiliary and was the Coordinator of the Red Cross Volunteer Service in the emergency department.

Myra is the Coordinator of the Cadbury Neighbourhood Watch program, which she started in 1996. She also initiated a Junior Neighbourhood Watch program at Claremont Primary School, which has been adopted by other schools. The Community Safety Committee, of which Myra is a member, was set up to assist the junior neighbourhood program. Rotary and the Glenorchy City Council support the committee’s work. Members visit schools in the Glenorchy area to encourage students to be more community conscious by reporting safety issues to their school. Issues are then reported to the committee and the students are presented with a certificate in appreciation of their action.

Myra joined the Glenorchy City Council Claremont Community Precinct in 1999, serving as secretary and is currently its convenor. The group has instigated several projects including the Claremont Community Library, an Eating with Friends group and Back to Claremont 2004. Under Myra’s leadership, the Claremont Precinct has established strong relationships with local schools and students are involved in the Eating with Friends program and tree planting days. She contributed to organising events to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the City of Glenorchy.

Myra was awarded a Glenorchy City Council Volunteer Award in 2002 and was honoured as Glenorchy Citizen of the Year in 2003. In 2006 she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for service to the community.

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