Judi Hearn of Bermagui is a recipient of the Bega Valley Shire Community Service Medallion for 2015.
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She is an accomplished researcher, author, artist and poet with several historical books to her name.
These include Bermagui: a century of features and families which she wrote with Ron Gaha, Bermagui By The Sea, Big Game Fishing at Bermagui, 1936-1996, Galleries of Pink Galahs, Reflections of Ted Taylor - Man of the High Country and her autobiography of horse trainer Leone Creamer, Horse-sweat and Tears.
She has also written a history of Bermagui with the Bermagui Historical Society.
However, it was her fascination with the Montreal Goldfields near Bermagui and the book she researched and wrote in 2001, The Montreal gold rush, Bermagui 1880-1883 that led to the establishment the historic Montreal Goldfields as a major tourism facility in 2005.
The old goldfields has become a significant heritage and environmental eco-tourism site for the shire.
Ms Hearn was an enthusiastic member of the Montreal Goldfield management committee which initiated the community project and has worked tirelessly ever since to increase educational opportunities to develop business relationships with the local Indigenous community.
It has been said of the project that “the Montreal Goldfields would not be what it is today without Judi’s untiring effort and enthusiasm”.
Her work with the Bermagui Historical Society and her promotion of the Sapphire Coast and its many attractions make her a worthy recipient of the Bega Valley Shire Community Service Medallion.