Two Banora Point women recognised on 2025 Hidden Treasures Honour Roll

TWO Banora Point women have been recognised on the 2025 Hidden Treasures Honour Roll, which recognises regional women volunteers who contribute across all areas of community life.

Tammy Jones and Tracey McDonagh are among 80 women from regional, rural and remote New South Wales honoured this year for their contribution to strengthening communities through volunteering.

Jones’ citation recognises her work across emergency services, homelessness support, animal welfare and community resilience, as well as her roles as a foster carer and qualified community and emergency management practitioner.

Jones has worked and volunteered with Australian Red Cross Emergency Services for more than 20 years, supporting emergency events across NSW and interstate, as well as preparedness work in remote communities.

She is also a single mother of four children and has fostered more than 13 children.

She volunteers at Fred’s Place, the first homeless drop-in centre in the Tweed and Byron shires, where she helped set up its administration system on computer, transitioning it from a paper-based system.

She also created the first homeless/rough sleepers Community Lead Resilience Team, and is a qualified vet nurse and volunteers at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital.

Alongside her community work, Jones has run home-based embroidery and uniform businesses for 30 years, and operated a children’s clothing label when her children were young.

She later completed qualifications in community services, case management and a Bachelor of Emergency Management.

Jones said she began volunteering after a family member became seriously ill, an experience that inspired her to dedicate herself to helping others.

“Thankfully, they recovered, and that experience left me with a deep sense of gratitude,” she said.

“I wanted to give something back – to thank the universe in the only way I knew how – by helping others.”

McDonagh was recognised for her work as community captain in establishing the Cycling Without Age Burringbar chapter, bringing the international program to The Tweed.

She founded the local chapter in 2023, with specially-designed tri-shaw rides for people who may no longer be able to cycle or walk long distances launching in 2024.

Since then, volunteers have taken more than 3,000 passengers through parts of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail and surrounding areas.

McDonagh said the Burringbar chapter is unique within the Cycling Without Age movement, which runs in more than 40 countries.

“We’re the only chapter in the world that ride under a rainforest canopy and through disused train tunnels,” she said.

McDonagh said some older residents have never ridden a bike before and it offers the opportunity for aged care residents to get out and about and experience something unique.

“A lot of older ladies in particular have never cycled,” she said.

“A lot of them tell a similar story, that they were never allowed to cycle when they were young because their fathers thought it was unseemly for a lady to ride a bike with a dress on.”

McDonagh said the recognition was a welcome acknowledgement of the volunteer effort behind the program.

“It’s good to have the acknowledgement that we’re doing something good to benefit the community,” she said.