JENNY AITCHISON MP
MEMBER FOR MAITLAND

At 102 years young, Joan Palmer honoured with 2025 Maitland Local Woman of the Year award

The 2025 Maitland Local Woman of the Year has been awarded to Joan Palmer in recognition of her significant work to support the Maitland and the broader Hunter community over decades, at an event last Friday night. The event was co-hosted with the Women’s Network (Hunter) NSW which drew around 70 attendees to honour all 7 nominees for their significant contribution to Maitland.

Joan moved to Maitland in 1946 as a young school teacher and has lived in the community for 78 years. Joan served students of the Hunter for 40 in both teaching and principal roles throughout the region including as Principal of Vacy, Morpeth, Mayfield West & Scone public schools.

Joan is a Legacy widow, and was an active member of Legacy from 1949.

Joan was a foundation member of the Maitland Repertory Society.

In 1947 Joan joined Maitland Golf Club and was honoured with Life Membership in 1999 after serving as a committee member for 18 years, with four years as President, nine years as Vice President and serving as secretary and handicap manager.

Joan continued her active involvement at the Club following the amalgamation of the Golf Club and Bowling Club in 2003 and was playing golf until a few years ago, when she had to stop due to deteriorating eye sight. In honour of Joan’s ongoing service and commitment to the Club, she was appointed Joint Patron of Easts in 2013, a position she still holds to this day.

The Hon Jenny Aitchsion MP congratulated Ms Palmer on the honour, saying “this is such a well-deserved honour for Joan, her livelong contribution to our community through her service to education, legacy, the arts and her beloved game of golf is beyond compare.

“Joan is an inspiration to all who have the pleasure of meeting her. At 102 years old Joan is well overdue to receive this recognition, and the fact that she is still actively involved in the community is a testament to her lifelong service.” Ms Aitchison said.

Minister Aitchison praised the contribution of all off the nominees saying “every one of our nominees had an amazing story to tell, and they were all inspirational, but, Joan’s extraordionary length of 78 years of service to the community was a standout.”

Joan’s lively acceptance speech drew warmth and fond appreciation for her wit and wisdom as she commented “it’s only taken me 102 years to win!”

Ever generous, Joan paid tribute to the many other women in the room who had leadership roles in the local community, remembering Meryl Swanson as a junior golf champion, and fondly remembering playing golf with Ms Swanson’s mother.

The event was also attended by Minister the Hon Kate Washington MP, Federal Member for Paterson, Meryl Swanson MP and Maitland City Councillors Clr Race Barstow, Clr Amelia Atkinson,Clr Peree Watson from Singleton Council and Clr Rosa Grine from Cessnock City Council.

NSW Minister for Women Jodie Harrison congratulated the state’s Local Woman of the Year Award 2025 recipients.

“Women who contribute to local areas are the pillars of their communities. They selflessly dedicate their time and energy to make a positive difference,” Minister Harrison said.

“I would like to acknowledge the invaluable contributions these women are making in their communities with dedication and passion, and thank them for all their amazing work.”

During the awards dinner, all 7 nominees were presented with certificates and flowers. The Local Woman of the Year Awards is an annual program celebrating outstanding women in local communities. This is a separate program which runs alongside the prestigious Women of the Year Awards program.

The Local Women of the Year Awards is part of the NSW Government’s initiative to recognise the accomplishments of women as part of NSW Women’s Week, coinciding with International Women’s Day on 8 March.

“These women are the backbone of our community, volunteering their time and energy to make a positive difference, every year I am in awe of the amazing women in our Maitland community and I am so pleased to thank them their efforts,” Ms Aitchison said.

“I would like to acknowledge their significant efforts to supporting our local community and thank them for all the work they do.”

All of the Local Woman of the Year Nominees for Maitland in 2025 were:

• Joan Palmer
• Montana Duggan
• Margaret Enright
• Ingrid Heyman
• Samantha Kulupach
• Angie Ussher
• Christine Walmsley

A copy of the program which lists a brief biography of each of the women is available here. Each of the women will be recognised in the NSW Parliament under Community Recognition Notices.