Jeanette Clifton was a shining star in advocacy

MARIE HOBSON, GUNNEDAH & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Looking back through time at the many volunteer groups in Gunnedah that make life so much easier for those needing support or other assistance, one of the town’s shining stars in advocacy was the late Jeanette Clifton.

Often the founders of these thriving groups are a grateful memory for some while generations coming through often have no knowledge of the compassion, care and sacrifice given freely by so many volunteers.

Born on 26 July 1934, the daughter of Trangie district couple Henry (Jim) and Queenie Ferguson, the young Jeanette Clifton was educated at Ascham College in Sydney.

A chance meeting at the Coonabarabran picnic races of Ken Clifton changed the path of her life and the couple married in the chapel of Ken’s old school, Shore, on 22 September 1955.

The Cliftons came to the Gunnedah district, purchasing the property Kilchurn at Mullaley and later moving to Roselawn on the Tamworth Road, where they lived for 23 years before moving in to Gunnedah.

Mrs Clifton’s many gifts were shared within the community and a lifetime of compassion in the health care field saw the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) awarded to her in 2011.

Mrs Clifton received the OAM for service to the community and to rural health, particularly through the Gunnedah Cancer Support Group and allied health groups, in which she took a prominent role over a period of more than 20 years.

Mrs Clifton was a founding member of the Cancer Support Group in 1992, serving as secretary for the first 10 years and then as a counsellor, providing a compassionate ear to a large number of local residents battling cancer.

She was a dedicated fundraiser for the NSW Cancer Council for many years and was a prominent member of the Gunnedah Relay for Life committee in 2005, which raised around $150,000 for cancer research and for support services for sufferers.

Mrs Clifton was chairperson of the Gunnedah Hospital board of directors from 1985 to 1995 and for many years worked as a volunteer for the GS Kidd Memorial School for children with intellectual and physical disabilities.

She was also a founding member of the Association for the Severely and Profoundly Retarded of New England (ASPRONE), her interest in this stemming from the severe developmental disability of her son Max.

For many years she worked for the Stockton Hospital Welfare Association in Newcastle, where her son was living, and was made a life member of the group in 1996.

Mrs Clifton took on another role in 2002 as a founding member and secretary of the Gunnedah chapter of the National Association for Loss and Grief (NALAG).

In 2001 she was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to rural health.

The Cliftons’ chief recreational interest was sailing and both were actively involved in the Lake Keepit Sailing Club, Ken serving as Commodore for many years. Both were made life members of the club.

Mrs Clifton was a tireless worker in her special-interest fields and won wide respect for her compassionate nature, despite her own recurring bouts of serious illness.

The world lost a bright ray of sunshine and many local organisations lost their greatest advocate with her death on 9 May 2013, aged 78. Ken Clifton died on 23 April 2017, aged 87, after a short illness.