Ray Neilson OAM and Anne McDonald were awarded the Milne-Wood Medal at Lara Aged Care and Ironwood Village on October 4.

The award was established by the RSL LifeCare Board to honour excellence, achievements and commitment to the welfare of aged care in RSL LifeCare and local communities.

Mr Neilson has been a Dungog councillor and held positions on Dungog Hospital Board.

He was president of Rotary as well as an active member of the Anglican Church.

Mr Neilson also held many local agricultural positions and ran his own building company for many years.

Mrs McDonald started her community involvement with the Dungog Primary School P&C and Dungog & District Neighbourcare.

She served as deputy mayor of Dungog and as a councillor and has been an active member of Health Services Forum and Alison Court Village committee.

The pair were instrumental in obtaining funding and working with the community to enable Lara Aged Care to be built 26 years ago.

Mr Neilson held the position of chairman and Mrs McDonald was secretary from the inception of Dungog & District Retirement Living until the transfer to RSL LifeCare in 2015.

They both still sit on the Dungog Advisory Committee.

Mr Neilson and Mrs McDonald have each devoted many hours as volunteers for community projects and fundraising initiatives.

Mr Neilson and Mrs McDonald gave thanks to their spouses Audrey Neilson and Malcolm McDonald.

They both spoke about the pleasure and enjoyment they have received from working with the community, residents and staff.

RSL LifeCare chairman Bill Riddington bestowed the medal on the pair at a morning tea with staff and residents.

Mr Riddington said Mrs McDonald and Mr Neilson were deserved recipients of the award as they have demonstrated a lifetime of community service to Dungog and to Lara Aged Care. 

The Milne-Wood award was established in 2008. Nominees may be RSL LifeCare staff, residents or volunteers nominated by anyone within the organisation.