Dorrigo's Barbara Dowling has become one of the first women on the North Coast to receive an End of the Second World War medallion.
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Binks (as she insists on being called) has just celebrated her 97th birthday.
The medallion issued by the Australian government is part of the 75th year commemoration of the end of World War II. It's being awarded to every living veteran of the largest global conflict of the 20th century.
Binks joined the Women's Royal Australian Air Force at the age of 20 and served as a recorder with the Air Defence Command in Townsville, which came under attack by Japanese bombers during her time there.
Binks was demobilised in October 1945 and later trained as a nurse.
She is one of four WW II veterans living on the Plateau.
She received her medal at a ceremony organised by the Dorrigo Sub Branch of the RSL, attended by a large number of members, friends and local residents.
All four of her children and at least one grandchild returned to Dorrigo for the presentation.
Speaking after the presentation Binks said she was honoured and deeply moved by her award.
"I am amazed just how many of us [WW II vets] are still alive and kicking," she said.
Binks was born in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, but moved to Ebor when she was five.
Many years later she and her husband, Ian, settled at Tyringham before Binks retired to Dorrigo.
During her long and colourful life, Binks became an accomplished author and artist, travelled extensively, was involved in many community activities, walked regularly until an accident last year and is an acknowledged icon of the Dorrigo Plateau.