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Suzanne (Sue) Goss

Tasmanian Honour Roll of Women logo
Suzanne Goss

Awarded for service to the Community

Born: 14 March 1945

Entered on roll: 2008


Sue is a ‘quiet achiever’ and receives great pleasure in supporting family and friends and ‘assisting people’ within the community, in need of physical, financial and emotional support. It has been reported that her ‘door is open to everyone’. (Mrs Lorraine Joy Gardiner, 2008)

Born in Launceston, Suzanne Goss, or Sue as she prefers to be known, is a mother of five. Sue lives in Rowella with her husband Jack, whom she credits as having been a great support to her over the years. Sue and Jack have 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Sue is also a foster parent, of 32 years’ experience. Over the years, Sue has cared for 72 foster children, many of whom have had special needs. 

Sue takes a holistic approach to foster care, looking to build skills and experiences in all areas of a child’s life, and providing stability and structure. As well as providing a home for foster children she has enrolled many of them in local kindergartens or schools and involved them in community activities wherever possible. Sue also likes to share one of her favourite hobbies, fishing, with her foster children.

Sue’s commitment to fostering has been such that she continued to take children into her home, even while home nursing both her terminally ill parents. Sue has also continued to foster after herself suffering a stroke 13 years ago that rendered her left arm completely disabled. Despite what some might view as a setback, Sue still manages to change nappies, mow lawns, assist with home renovations, and bait fishing hooks.

Sue’s voluntary efforts have not stopped at her own home. She has been a dedicated fundraiser for people with disabilities, organising fundraising events for MultiCap in the West Tamar community. Additionally, for many years, while the children were at school, Sue volunteered for the local St Vincent De Paul shop. While her main tasks were to launder and mend clothes for the shop, Sue would willingly step in to the role of salesperson when required. This is how Sue Goss is known to Rowella residents, as someone who will help out in the community in whatever capacity she is needed, whether it is taking and developing photos for local community events or dressing up as Santa Claus at the local kindergarten.

Sue is also known for her creative talents; upholstery, home renovations, furniture making, painting and photography - skills she willingly offers to the community when required.

Sue has received a number of accolades for her voluntary work including the 1986 Retarded Citizen Welfare Association Award, the 2004 and 2005 Launceston City Council Children’s Week Awards, a 2007 National Foster Carer’s Recognition Award and the 2007 West Tamar Council Australia Day Award for Citizen of the Year.

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