At 76 years of age, the former teacher said she has always been motivated by her love for her town and its people.

“I just feel very, very honoured because when you do all these things you don’t do them for the rewards they bring, you do them to make the world a better place.”

Mrs Field received the honour for her services to the community of Yass and beyond, through her membership in volunteer organisations like the Lions Club, Red Cross, Aged Care, Education, Health, Meals on Wheels and, in particular, her work for the Cancer Council.

She is known fondly by locals and travellers as the ‘Cancer Council lady with wonderful craft’.

For the past 20 Years, through rain, hail or sunshine, Mrs Field can be seen manning a small stall on the outskirts of Yass selling handmade items to passers-by. The profits all going to the Cancer Council for research.

“I mostly sell them outside of Yass so I’m not just taking local money but spreading it out to the wider community,” she said.

Mrs Field’s OAM can be attributed to her life’s work; a longstanding commitment to raising significant funds for the local community, medical research, cancer support and infrastructure, such as aged care and rescue facilities.

Never one to sit still, Mrs Field’s list of volunteer work is astounding. She provided support to schools across the district through her work as president of the ex-students of Mt Carmel, running Debutante Balls and reinvesting in the school.

She has sponsored prizes for student awards, including the ‘Youth of the Year’ award at the Yass and district schools for just over a decade. She was also one of the instigators, and treasurer, in the establishment of the Safety House in Yass.

“We used to meet at the police station. The whole concept was that if anyone was in trouble or danger they could go into a ‘safety house’ and then we would come and find them and look after them,” she said.

“It’s not around anymore, but it was fabulous when it was up and running.”

The Wee Jasper Trust is just one of the many other ways Mrs Field spends her time.

She is also the current Chairman of the local Racecourse Trust; a Board member of the Yass District Hospital; Chairman of Shannon House Special Services; Meals-on-Wheels volunteer; and has been a Board Member of Gwen Warmington Lodge and Horton House Aged Care facilities.

She has been recognised for her work in aged care as a life member of the Gwen Warmington Lodge.

“You just make the time to do these things. My family has always helped and supported me, I couldn’t have done a lot of things without my family and friends,” she continued.

In 1998, Mrs Field set her sights on the Lions Club, having spent much of her time raising funds for local community projects at Bowning and surrounds. She sponsored over 25 members into the Lions Club over the years.

“My daughters have picked up the challenge of community service and are all active members of the Lions Club today,” she said.

Mrs Field was involved in developing a new Lions Club in Bowning. At one stage or another she has held all key roles - President, Secretary, and Treasurer many times. She also joined Cabinet in a range of roles and was NSW/ACT Lions Cake Chairman for many years.

“It was a fantastic and rewarding experience to give my time for an organisation like the Lions. I didn’t even mind the phone calls at all hours asking where to get a Christmas Cake, if we could help someone we would,” she said.

Over the many years in running her small stall, Mrs Field has raised in excess of $100,000 for Cancer research.

She raised a similar amount for the Lions Save Sight and Public Health Care Foundation.

A lot of the funds were raised by hours of selling raffle tickets and even more hours of making craft to sell for charity.

Mrs Field was recognised in 2011 with a National Volunteer Award, and in 2004 was named the Yass Shire Citizen of the Year. She was recently announced winner of the 2013- 14 Lions Save Sight Community Challenge for most money raised.

The mother of five and grandmother of 10 said she was “amazed and delighted” to learn she would receive an OAM for her service to the community.

“I hardly have words to describe it,” she said.

“To be recognised by the Australian Government is really quite special.”

Mrs Field said she has enjoyed the journey the Yass community has taken her on.

“I have to say it’s been a great and wonderful thrill,” she said.

“I’m having a wonderfully stimulating life.”