Queen's Birthday Honours: Tenterfield's Kim Rhodes awarded Order of Australia Medal for dedication to the community

A chef by trade, she knows that organisation is the key to a successful event.

It's a good skill to have, especially for someone who's involved in almost every community committee in Tenterfield.

Ms Rhodes has just been given an Order of Australia Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours and said she's incredibly humbled to be chosen.

"I think for me I enjoy working with other people that are like-minded and want to see the town go ahead and improve, so that's a really big priority," she said.

"Nothing would happen without volunteers in Tenterfield. Nothing at all.

"My dad when I grew up was involved in a lot of things and my brother and I saw that from him, I think that's why I went down those tracks."

Ms Rhodes has given a lot of her time to the Tenterfield Show Society as an entertainment coordinator, a public officer and a secretary.

She's worked as a community liaison officer at Sir Henry Parkes Memorial Primary School since 2017, operates the Courtyard Cafe and was a member of the Tenterfield and District Visitors Association and Main Streets coordinator.

It's a wonder she has any free time.

She's also president of the Tenterfield Community College, the secretary for her local Lions Club, a member of the Tenterfield Autumn Festival Committee, the Tenterfield National Party and the president of the Tenterfield Beat of the Bush Festival.

This year, the small town celebrates 150 years and she's helping the committee get that up and running.

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The Lions Club is a community commitment she cherishes.

"Lions for me ticks a lot of boxes in that we work as a community group to assist ourselves, but mainly other groups within our shire," she said.

"I really love the fact that I get to work with so many amazing people with different skills, it's such a diverse group of people but we work together so well and that's why I volunteer.

"I have no idea who nominated me but I was really humbled by the thought someone would think enough of me and see me working in the community."

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