Educator and volunteer of 35 years awarded Australia Day honour for services to community

Margaret Bell has been recognised in the Australia Day 2022 Honours list with an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for service to the community which includes a 35 year association with Macarthur Preschool in Camden, New South Wales. 

Speaking to her local newspaper, the Camden Advertiser, Ms Bell said, “Volunteering and working in the local preschool has given me the most rewarding times of my life.”

“I have loved every day being involved in Camden’s many events and the lifetime friendships made along the way.”

Macarthur Preschool is a community run service that is rated Exceed the National Quality Standard across all seven Quality Areas. Ms Bell retired from her role at the preschool in 2019 after 35 years. 

The other notable mention in the Australia Day honours list with connections to the early childhood education and care community was ACT based Kylie Crane who received a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service through contributions to the Disability Taskforce, and to the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ms Crane, who is employed by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE), has held a number of roles across education and disability, and played an instrumental role in the policy responses designed to support the ECEC sector in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

To review the full list of 2022 Honours please click here.