Nancy was recognised for her many years service to the Young community, headlined by her involvement in pushing for a new Young hospital in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

She's volunteered and helped a range of various community organisations and sporting groups in Young, spanning from the 1960s and continuing today.

"It's a wonderful surprise to receive this award for the years of voluntary work that I have given to this wonderful town of Young," Nancy said.

After joining the former Southern Slopes Area Health Council in 1997, Nancy started campaigning for a new hospital in Young.

Eight years later, it was completed.

Nancy said she developed a passion and strong desire to improve health services in Young.

"When my husband took ill I discovered that our over 100-year-old hospital was in need of a new facility. We joined the Southern Slopes Area Health Council run from Queanbeyan in those years. Our health service came from Canberra and took in Boorowa, Harden, Yass and Young.

"I took on secretary then president and it was at these meetings a drive for a new hospital commenced, going down all avenues until our state member Ian Armstrong got Craig Knowles, the Minister for Health, to come to Young."

Young's new hospital was opened by Morris Iemma, then Minister for Health, in 2005.

Young had a shortage of general practitioners during these years and each weekend a locum would fly into Canberra to be picked up and brought to Young to fill the hospital roster.

Nancy, as president of the Health Council, did her share of late night trips to Canberra to pick up the travelling doctors.

The Health Council supported the Young doctors in setting up work place training for students from Canberra's Australian National University.

That relationship continues today, and has helped secure permanent GPs for Young.

Nancy resigned when the Southern Slopes Health Council closed and became part of Riverina Health in 2003, today known as the Murrumbidgee Local Health District.

She joined and has since remained a member of the Young Hospital Auxiliary.

"I know at the time people would say 'Nancy's Hospital' but that was probably because it was all I talked about."

While Nancy is most proud of playing a key role in securing a new hospital for Young, she's also made a huge impact through volunteering in other areas of the community.

She is a foundation member of Young's Netball Association in 1973, umpires convenor, grounds secretary and a life member since 1982.

Nancy was president of Young Girl Guides when their new hall was opened in 1979.

She's a former treasurer of Girl Guides and a patron since the early 1990s. Girl Guides have existed for more than 70 years in Young of which Nancy has been a member for 50 years.

She was president of the Brock Street Preschool for two years and a committee member from 1968 until 1973, and is a former president, secretary and treasurer of Young ladies' golf.

Throughout the past 60 years, Nancy's also been a president of school committees and helped canteens, committee member for swimming club, involved in junior soccer, a strong supporter of the Margaret House Women's Refuge in Young, volunteered for Meals on Wheels, and today is a member and publicity officer for the croquet club.

"A lot of what I've done has come from nothing. I made and sold a lot of lamingtons, cherry pies, and did a lot of catering during those years. I've made some wonderful friends, the friendships I've made, it's just incredible. There's satisfaction in seeing buildings, in seeing results and progress. It's hard to put it down to words."

Nancy was born in Eugowra in 1937, attended school at Dripping Rock, Eugowra, and Forbes OLMC before starting nursing in Young in 1954.

She went to St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne in 1958 and studied obstetrics, before moving to Perth to study special nursing for terminally ill.

She was matron of Eugowra Hospital in 1960.

Nancy married Don McGregor and moved back to Young in 1962.

They have four children and nine grandchildren.

The 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours List recognised 933 Australian including 457 for the Medal of the Order of Australia.

Nancy will be invited by government house later in the year to attend a ceremony at which she'll be presented the award's insignia.

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