Lyn Vaak posthumously awarded Order of Australia Medal
Lyn Vaak spent her entire adult life making sure girls and young women in western Sydney were given every opportunity to reach their full potential. Today, her lifetime of work has been acknowledged posthumously as she is awarded an OAM.
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Lyn Vaak spent her entire adult life making sure girls and young women in western Sydney were given every opportunity to live to their full potential.
She has now been recognised for her work with the Girls’ Friendly Society, now known as GFS Australia, with a posthumous Order of Australia Medal for services to the community, particularly to women and young girls.
Lyn’s brother-in-law Lawrence Crooks, who married Lyn’s sister Jennifer, said she had devoted her entire life to helping others.
“Right from the day she joined she never left GFS,” he said.
“She worked tirelessly to make sure kids always had somewhere to go.
“She also looked after teens who could have easily gone off the rails, she tried to help them as much as she could.
“GFS was her life, she gave so effortlessly and continually.”
GFS Australia is a not-for-profit, Christian organisation that provides ministries and support to children, youth, families, and young adults in a safe and accepting environment.
Born in 1948, Lyn grew up in Mount Druitt before moving to Leonay Parade after she was married.
She started her journey with GFS Australia in 1966 when she was elected as a member of the Blue Mountains District.
She held various roles with the district until 1999, including chairwoman, co-ordinator, treasurer, and secretary.
She was also a founding member and the leader of the Mt Druitt district in 1966, and was the leader of the Emu Plains GFS from 1978 to 2010.
In 1992, Lyn made the leap to being the Diocesan Secretary for GFS Sydney, and was chairwoman from 2012 to 2018.
She was then named the vice-chairwoman of GFS Australia, a post she held until her death in June, 2019.
Lyn was one of four people from the Penrith LGA to be awarded Order of Australia Medals.
The chair and director of the Penrith City Children’s Services Cooperative, Maxwell Friend, was awarded an OAM for service to children.
Mr Friend is also a committee member of the Jamisontown Children’s Centre and has been a Justice of the Peace for 50 years
John Bonwick was awarded an OAM for service to caving and karsting for his more than 50 years with the Sydney Speleological Society.
Mr Bonwick discovered the Chevalier Extension in the Jenolan Caves and invented the Bonwick Caving Ladder.
The fourth recipient chose to remain anonymous.