A gold medal day for Caroline

Caroline Talbot made the trip to Government House in Melbourne on April 19, to be formally presented with her Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), awarded at this year's Australia Day honours.

Her OAM was in recognition of her service to the community through an extraordinary lifetime of volunteering.

The presentation ceremony with Governor General Margaret Gardner was organised with impressive efficiency said Caroline.

"Logistically it was a big event and it was very well orchestrated," she said.

Accompanied by her sons Chris and Darren, son-in-law Danny and grandchildren Jin and Ami, Caroline was one of 94 recipients at the ceremony, which was the final of six presentation events held over the week.

Caroline's OAM was actually four medals in different sizes, for use at different occasions, with the main medal coming in its own padded travel case.

The day was momentous and long, leaving home at 9am and arriving back on the island after 6pm.

"I was running on adrenaline the whole day," Caroline said.