Anne Frost has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to the Performing Arts

Mrs Frost has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia by the Queen.

Growing up in Stroud and going to Raymond Terrace High School, Mrs Frost didn't have many opportunities to explore the performing arts.

"One thing that I felt was missing when I was a child in Stroud there was no drama," Mrs Frost said.

Initially studying to become a home science and textiles teacher, Mrs Frost discovered her passion for performing arts after her husband encouraged her to take singing lessons.

At first performing arts was difficult for Mrs Frost as she struggled with confidence and stage fright.

"I overcame my shyness and my stage fright. It really was quite debilitating to start with. I made it my mission to overcome that," Mrs Frost said.

After learning to sing Mrs Frost got her first role as Ottilie in The White Horse Inn.

From there, Mrs Frost would go on to perform in amateur musical productions throughout the late 70's. Eventually, she would run a series of youth theatres, her own private drama school and her own singing studio.

"Those years were taken up with young people and directing shows with young people," she said.

Afterwards, in 1992 Mrs Frost took her family on a tour around Australia, touring Hansel and Gretel to primary schools across the nation, as well as a one woman show she had written for her.

"It was wonderful, a brilliant experience for everybody. It taught the children how to work and how to be thrifty with money. We were always a close family but doing that we were a working company, the four of us," Mrs Frost said.

Tragedy struck when Mrs Frost's father died in the early 2010's, as a result she moved back to her hometown of Stroud. This didn't signal the end of the arts for Mrs Frost.

Mrs Frost bought a newfound spirit to performing arts in Stroud, getting involved with the Stroud Crowd Choir and writing and directing a short film called Stroud: The Home of Champions.

More recently, Mrs Frost was asked by a Dr Louise Sterling to assist her with looking into a cold case by researching, writing and re-enacting the original inquest into the case.

"She choose a cold case, which happened to be a double murder of Mr and Mrs McCaskill in 1878. I then researched the whole thing and wrote up the inquest, verbatim as much as possible, and chose people from the community to play the various people in the courthouse," Mrs Frost said.

Mrs Frost is incredibly passionate about the arts, this passion has led her to pursue this career since the 70s.

"I feel at home on a stage. There's something about performing that makes me feel I am where I'm meant to be," Mrs Frost said.

Mrs Frost was in Los Angeles visiting her son when she found out she had won the Medal of the Order of Australia. At first, she didn't think it was real.

"I got his email and I said, Ben look, I've got this it must be a hoax. I showed it to him and he said 'no mum no!'. I couldn't believe it. I was absolutely gobsmacked," Mrs Frost said.

This award has reaffirmed to Mrs Frost that all her decisions that led her down this path were the right ones.

"It means the world to me. For me to receive this, it makes me feel that I did go down the right road. I did make some correct decisions," She said.

As well as Mrs Frost, ex-Dungog resident and Australian cricket legend Doug Walters also got some recognition over the Queen's birthday. Mr Walters was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to cricket at an elite level.

The Australian cricket legend has played in 74 tests and 28 one-day international matches. This earnt him a spot in the Sports Australia Hall of Fame in 1994. On top of this, Mr Walters has also written four books throughout his life.

Mr Walters' has also had a significant impact on the town of Dungog, with the Doug Walters Pavillion acting as both a club house and community hub for Dungog.

For more information on the Queen's birthday honour list visit www.gg.gov.au/australia-day-2022-honours-list