Mrs Storey’s citation commends her “significant service to women in regional and remote areas, to politics and public policy, and to the community of Yass”.

Her service history includes membership of the Rural Women’s Network committee of NSW for the Liberal Party of Australia’s Yass Branch, and well as presidency of the same.

For the Liberal Party’s NSW division, she was also a country female vice-president; and national vice-president of the Liberal Party of Australia, with affiliations dating back to the early 1970s.

Locally, Mrs Storey was also an active board member and vice president of the Yass Aged Care Foundation (2015-2016), which administers Horton House and Warmington Lodge, and board member of Yass Valley Aged Care (2007-2012).

At the Yass Aged Care Foundation annual general meeting in October 2017, Peter Doyle paid tribute to the committee’s high levels of support and expertise during his 10 years as president.

“It is appropriate to acknowledge the dedication of vice president Gillian Storey, who is not standing for election at this year’s AGM,” Mr Doyle said.

“Gillian has given generously of her time, which is subject to considerable demand from her family and other community organisations,” Mr Doyle said.

“Her forthright, considered, intelligent and politely expressed opinions will be missed. We wish her well with her other endeavours.”

In his memoir, former Northern Territory chief minister and later federal president of the Liberal Party of Australia Shane Stone recalls Mrs Storey being “an outstanding deputy” who could have been party leader.

“It was a matter of personal regret when she later decided to retire,” Mr Stone said. “[She] gave exceptional service to the party at a Federal level as well as the NSW Division. I missed her counsel and support when she finally decided to give it away [after] a rough trot during the drought on [the Storey] farm outside Yass.”

The Tribune was unable to reach Mrs Storey for comment.