Yandina’s ‘go-to woman’ gets recognition outside town

AMY “Pat” Cordwell was born in Yandina and likely will serve that community for as long as she lives.

TOWN ENCYCLOPEDIA: Amy ’Pat’ Cordwell, outside Yandina’a Historic House, has been awarded an OAM. Picture: John Mccutcheon

AMY "Pat" Cordwell was born in Yandina and likely will serve that community for as long as she lives.

The 66-year-old is a living encyclopedia of the Sunshine Coast's oldest town, having helped found and volunteered with some of the area's major organisations and community groups for as long as she can remember.

Mrs Cordwell has received an Order of Australia Medal for her service to the community of Yandina.

"You don't do these things expecting a reward. You do it because you love it," Mrs Cordwell said of her award.

"I couldn't picture myself living anywhere else ... just the community feel you get here is so special.

"I was very surprised and very humbled when I found out about the award."

Mrs Cordwell grew up on a Yandina dairy farm owned by her grandparents, who were pioneers in the area.

She attended Kiamba State School, which closed in 1965, before working in a small bakery on Stevens St.

Her volunteer work began when the first of her four kids started school at Yandina State School.

There she started as the tuckshop convenor and later was organiser of the school's fundraising committee.

Her work in the community continued as she and her husband Garry started running his parents' business, Cordwell's Concrete, in the 1960s.

The business still stands today, run by the couple and their four kids who also live in Yandina.

In the past 40 years, Mrs Cordwell has managed to juggle being part of the foundation of the Yandina Scouts and Yandina Girl Guides in the '80s, the Yandina Historical Society in 1996 and the Yandina Chamber of Commerce in 1995.

She said being so immersed in the community most of her life had made her the "go-to" woman.