On 15 July 2021, after 22 years of excellent service, Dianne Day - Shoalcoast Community Legal Centre's Administrator and Community Legal Education Support Worker - will retire. By Justine O’Reilly (Principal Solicitor, Shoalcoast Community Legal Centre).
On 15 July 2021, after 22 years of excellent service, Dianne Day, Shoalcoast Community Legal Centre's Administrator and Community Legal Education Support Worker will retire. Dianne has worked at Shoalcoast Community Legal Centre almost since the day the centre opened in 1999.
In her multifaceted role she did client intakes, coordinated community legal education and events, collected and organised resources, paid bills, and generally kept the office running.
From 2007 to 2017, Dianne was also the Cooperative Legal Service Delivery program Coordinator, encouraging collaboration between the legal services and community services in the South Coast. She has been a dedicated member of Shoalhaven Youth Interagency and of Shoalhaven Older People Abuse Prevention Network. With others, she spearheaded many community initiatives such as a Homeless Forum, Fines Days for Aboriginal communities, Wills Days for Aboriginal communities, Pink Ribbon Breakfasts, Health Justice Conferences, and Info Bingo to name a few.
In 2009, Dianne won an International Women's Day Award for being an inspirational member of the community. She was described as "a backbone of the community" who "has worked in the Shoalhaven community welfare sector since the late 1980s." Pam Arnold, from Nowra Family Support Service, who nominated Dianne for the award, described her as a loyal, conscientious woman who has a strong commitment to her family, friends, work colleagues and the community and is committed to issues of social justice and equity. Pam went on to say "Dianne is an indomitable force to be reckoned with and is always tenacious in embarking upon any challenge."
For 22 years, Dianne’s commitment to Shoalcoast’s mission has never wavered. She has always pushed for excellent service to our clients, and inspired the rest of us to do the same. She is our matriarch, loved and trusted by all the staff. The office is a happier place when she is in it. We will sorely miss her and are grateful for all she has done.