Pittwater Life April 2023 Issue

News
Gail a force for locals
Gail Lonnon OAM is far
more embarrassed than
any 86-year-old should be. Her
elevation to the New Year’s honours
list was accompanied with
a short citation: “For services to
the Avalon community.”
Says the former high school
teacher: “Lots of people have
contributed more to the Avalon
community than I have.
“When I first heard about
this ‘honour’ I wanted to say
‘Thanks, but no thanks.’
“But then I thought that
would be unfair on the people
who had had nominated me.
“I’m nervous about embarrassing
myself or my two sons,
David and Ian.”
She quotes the actual citation,
explaining that the award
wasn’t handed over because of
any particular thing she did in
Avalon, but for the numerous
years she served on education
committees – a secondary
teacher who became a primary
school expert.
“Most of the work I was
nominated for wasn’t done in
Avalon. It was done in a range
of committees with educational
authorities,” she says.
Some of those were at ministerial
level.
“I did a lot of curriculum
work when the NSW primary
curriculum was changing.
“The government wanted to
introduce a course for primary
kids called Human Society and
Environment.
“I spent hours in meetings,
banging my head against a
brick wall.”
Raised in the Eastern suburbs
and a boarder at Ravenswood
School for Girls, Gail
and her now deceased husband
Ray moved to Pittwater in 1970.
In the meantime, Gail has
held down many positions.
One of the most interesting
was being the founder member
of Taronga Zoo Educational
Centre.
“I was secretary of the Parents
and Citizens Association
of Barrenjoey High and secretary
of the equivalent organisation
of Avalon Public school
(secretary of the Mother’s Club
from 1878-1994).
AWARD: Gail Lonnon outside the Avalon Recreation Centre.
She also served on the
Avalon Beach Ladies Probus
committee as Public Officer
since 2018.
A club for retired women, it
meets every Tuesday, at Club
Palm Beach.
She’s also been a justice of
the peace, a life member of the
Avalon Preservation Society
and a former roster secretary of
the Avalon Community Library.
Of all the duties which earned
Gail her Order of Australia
Medal, that last position is one
that has made her happiest.
“Avalon Library is staffed
by volunteers,” she explains.
“There’s only one paid librarian.
The rest of us were volunteers.
“For 15 years it was my job
to find all the volunteers to fill
the spots.”
Elevation to the honour’s list
came as a complete surprise to
Gail, and she’s still undecided
whether it is warranted or not.
But a lifetime of selfless
service to the community is no
mean deal, honoured or not.
– Steve Meacham
*Library volunteers: northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/library.
PHOTO: Steve Meacham
28 APRIL 2023
The Local Voice Since 1991