BENDIGO woman Lynette Warren has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to the Indigenous community of Bendigo.<\/p>\n
Known locally as Lyn, or Aunty Lyn, Mrs Warren has been giving back to her community for over 25 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been doing it since 1994. That\u2019s when I learnt about my family and who I was because up until then I didn\u2019t know I was Aboriginal,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Aunty Lyn said she felt \u201cvery, very proud\u201d to receive the award, and described it as \u201can amazing honour\u201d.<\/p>\n
The excitement was hard to contain for the honouree who said she had to share the good news with her son.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was very, very hard but I only told my son. I had to, he\u2019s up in Shepparton so I couldn\u2019t keep it in,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Upon receiving her award, Aunty Lyn said the achievement is \u201cfantastic\u201d as an Aboriginal woman.<\/p>\n
The award recipient said she hopes more First Nations people can make an impact in their community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s opened the door for other people to do the work,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Like all who serve their community, Aunty Lyn wasn\u2019t looking for awards or public acknowledgement, for her it was about service to the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t do it for recognition, I do it because I love it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really am so proud that I\u2019ve got the recognition, but it\u2019s just been something for me that\u2019s been a journey and healing for me to get out and talk to other people and listen to their problems.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chair and director for the Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative until 2021, Ms Warren has also been a board member for Women\u2019s Health Loddon Mallee, and for the Centre of Non-Violence, where she still currently works.<\/p>\n
Aunty Lyn was inducted into Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2019.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BENDIGO woman Lynette Warren has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to the Indigenous community of Bendigo. Known locally as Lyn, or Aunty Lyn, Mrs Warren has been giving back to her community for over 25 years. \u201cI\u2019ve been doing it since 1994. That\u2019s when I learnt about my […]<\/p>\n