Vale Margaret Wilkinson
Published on 01 July, 2009
The Bundaberg community is mourning the recent passing of 82-year-old Margaret Wilkinson OAM, who made outstanding contributions to the community, including 5 decades of service to the St John's Ambulance.
The award of Companion of the University was conferred on Mrs Wilkinson in April, 2000, in recognition of her community service.
A highlight of her career was establishing a cadet division in 1958 and 19 years later setting up the first St John's magazine, called Newscentre. Statement of service records from 1971 to 1990 show that Mrs Wilkinson volunteered more than 10,000 hours of work for the organisation over that period.
On top of her service to the St John's Ambulance, Mrs Wilkinson found time to devote to other organisations including Meals on Wheels, the Queensland Ambulance Service; the Friendly Society Private Hospital Ethics and Advisory Committee; the Sunshine Coast Rescue Helicopter Service; and Lifeline. She was also a Justice of the Peace.
In 1982, Mrs Wilkinson earned a promotion to 'Dame of Grace in the Order of St John of Jerusalem', becoming only the second person in Queensland to be made a Dame of the Order. In 1992, she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for service to St John's Ambulance and the Bundaberg community.