A cherished memory of the late Winsome Nicolai is set to be immortalised at the Gawler Cultural Heritage Centre.
Through her countless hours of volunteering in the Gawler community, Mrs Nicolai had the honour of meeting the late Queen Elizabeth II in London during her five years of service with St John’s.
The uniform Winsome donned on that memorable day, complete with hat and bag, will be on exhibition at the Gawler Civic Centre.
Member of Parliament Tony Piccolo said the moment was one of the many highlights of Mrs Nicolai’s life, as her memory continues to live on in the community.
“Win was such a beautiful person who worked tirelessly for a range of causes in the community including the Girl Guides Gawler, the Special Olympics South Australia and Gawler International Women's Day,” said Mr Piccolo.
“She spent more than 40 years in voluntary and official roles in the Guide Girls and numerous other roles with Evanston Gardens Progress Association, Gawler Amateur Swimming Club, Gawler Volunteering Advisory Committee, Royal Flying Doctors and various school committees.
“She epitomised the true spirit of volunteering; she just did it without fuss or fanfare.”
Following Mrs Nicolai’s passing in December 2023, close friends Peter and Roma Baldock helped sort through her belongings.
The pair discovered the uniform and felt it should be preserved as part of Gawler’s history, contacting Mr Piccolo to find an appropriate donation recipient.
“Coordinator Jacinta Weiss and her team were delighted to receive the uniforms, not only because of Mrs Nicolai’s impact on our community, but also because of it’s brush with the longest-serving monarch,” said Mr Piccolo.
“I’m grateful the items have found a home, remaining within our Gawler community.”
Chair of the Gawler Heritage Collection Committee, Judy Gillett-Ferguson, first met Winsome as a fellow member of the original Gawler International Women's Day Committee, with Winsome an “integral part of the IWD” and “a serious scone maker”.
“Win contracted polio as a young mother with two young children and she overcame a great many obstacles to raise her growing family,” said Ms Gillett-Ferguson.
“I was impressed by her physical courage in the face of serious disability and her commitment to whatever cause or organisation she was part of – and there were a great many over the years.
“She was inspirational, wise and self-effacing, and I feel very privileged to have known Win and worked with her.
“Gawler was very fortunate to have had such an outstanding woman in our community.”