the artwork for certificates , flyers and “ whatever else is needed ”.

The Williams ’ long association with guides continues with Justine ’ s 11-yearold daughter , Kiah , sharing her mother , aunt and grandmother ’ s passion for the movement .

Kiah ’ s brother , 8-year-old Cameron , at the moment , shows no interest in the scouting movement , preferring swimming as his pastime .

Brian couldn ’ t escape the Guide “ noose ” – a deft hand with hammer , nail and a hunka wood , he is always ready , willing and able to do any repairs to the guide hall in Mill Road . Back to the twins ! After the readin ’, ritin ’ and ‘ rithmetic caper at Kurrajong Primary and St Pauls Grammar at Cranebrook , Justine and Kylee completed Bachelor Health Science ( Nursing ) degrees at UWS Richmond .

Kylee worked in the emergency and cardiac care areas for 25 years before using her remarkable computer and business skills and entering the investment business .

Justine ’ s long career in nursing continues at Richmond ’ s St John of God Hospital where she is a theatre nurse . During her long career she also worked in emergency , cardiac cath lab and lectured at her old nursing alma mater .

The twins also nursed a passion for grass skiing after Brian and Diane opened the Kurrajong Heights Grass Ski complex in 1980 , which they operated until selling after retiring in 2003 .

Both rose to become elite grass skiers winning multiple titles at state , national and international levels .

Justine won a World Junior title in Italy as well as the senior crown at a Japanese Senior championship and Kylee was on the top dais at a Pan Pacific Championships in Taiwan .

Justine and Kylee contested the 1987 World Championships in Austria where they did their parents and country proud , finishing fifth and sixth respectively against the best grass skiers on the planet . Now , let ’ s go back in time to June 29 , 1968 , when Diane and Brian became husband and wife . I naturally asked them how they met . “ I lived at Tennyson and one day I was leaning over the fence and this car went past with this , what I thought was a very handsome young man , at the wheel .” She explained .

“ I think it was a Tuesday so the next Tuesday , I stood at the same spot at the same time and waved to the driver when he went past – I did the same for the next five or six weeks and each time the car went past it was a bit slower the young man also returned my wave .

“ He finally pulled over the following week and we had a good , old chat and he explained that each week he drove from his home in Kurrajong over to visit a mate in Wilberforce , hence his regular passing of our home ,” Diane explained .

“ Brian then asked me out to a picnic at the Grose River with friends – we were married two years later !”

Such is her modesty , it wasn ’ t until I had rubbed writer ’ s cramp out of my

Justine and Kylee or is it Kylee and Justine ? The twins have certainly shared their lives together as Girl Guides , members of Kurrajong Heights RFS , highly qualified nurses and beloved daughters of their oh-soproud parents .

hands that Diane ’ s proud family revealed that she was anointed Citizen of the Year at the 2022 Hawkesbury Australia Day Awards .

If there ’ s a family award next year , as sure as eggs is eggs , the Williams clan will be laydown misères to make the acceptance speech .

Needless to write but meeting this inspirational family and being given the opportunity to tell ( part of ) their story , made my day .

Emergency service awards

Our emergency service workers , most of them volunteers , don ’ t often look for adulation or congratulations . However , those of us who have needed them , can ’ t thank , or praise them enough .

The annual NSW Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards formally recognise those frontline personnel who go above and beyond the call of duty .

Hawkesbury MP Robyn Preston urges residents to nominate a local hero , by making a submission now to the eighth awards .

“ Emergency services personnel are not only first responders during times of crisis , they also perform essential work yearround , such as community engagement and fundraising ,” Ms Preston said .

“ I ’ d like to thank the Hawkesbury local emergency services for their tireless work for our community during the recent floods in Hawkesbury .”

Nominations are open until Tuesday , 31 May , and open to personnel and volunteers from our state ’ s Fire and Rescue , Marine Rescue , Ambulance , State Emergency Service , Rural Fire Service , Surf Life Saving and VRA Rescue .

Finalists will be announced on 22 June at Parliament House , with a ceremony held at Bankstown Sports Club on 13 August Nominate now at nsw . rescawards . org . au .

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THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 143 // APRIL 2022 7