Goulburn Hospital fundraising champion Nerida Cullen receives OAM

Mrs Cullen received the medal for her involvement with countless community organisations. These include: BDCU Goulburn Hospital Fundraising Inc., the Country Education Foundation of Goulburn and District, Goulburn Health, South East Local Land Services, Goulburn Rural Land Protection Board, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Rural Women's Network, Australian Women in Agriculture, Southern Tablelands Community College, and more. In addition, she was awarded Goulburn Woman of the Year in 2013.

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For the hard-working woman the OAM "came from left field".

Mrs Cullen said she was honoured members of the Goulburn community had nominated her, and to receive the medal given on the queen's behalf.

"I'm not someone who goes out and looks for accolades."

Mrs Cullen spent "a great number of years in country towns", but when she moved to Sydney with her husband she missed community connection.

When the couple moved to Goulburn she vowed to get "very involved in the community".

"I had to make networks and friends, I thought: I'm going to join anything I'm interested in", She said.

"Goulburn is a little gem no one knows about.

"Country towns are a very prized commodity."

As president Mrs Cullen is heavily involved with BDCU Goulburn Hospital Fundraising Inc.

Her main focus this year is to raise more money to help the hospital. Mrs Cullen said they raised around $500,000 since the committee began, but efforts in 2020 were significantly impacted by COVID-19.

"We are still very quietly getting on with money raising," she said.

"The Goulburn community has really gotten behind us."

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