BY DI SNEDDON
Few would know Singleton’s Lyn MacBain is now on the New South Wales Hidden Treasures Honour Roll. I know because I nominated her and thus we have this story.
Last week the State Labor Government celebrated the invaluable contributions of 80 outstanding regional female volunteers with the unveiling of the 2025 Hidden Treasures Honour Roll.
The spark for me to nominate Lyn was the name. Through Singleton Tidy Towns, chairperson Lyn introduced her own hidden treasures award years ago. At the annual Tidy Towns thank you lunch she presents certificates of appreciation to individuals in Singleton who perform their role, contributing with little recognition.
Lyn believed they deserved recognition and so does she.
Lyn is committed to her community in so many ways.
The honour is attributed to her work with Singleton Healthy Environment Group that helped to instal the air quality monitoring network in the Upper Hunter, Singleton Hospital Trust, Family History Singleton and Singleton Tidy Towns among others.
I asked Lyn what got her started and it was family conversations around the dinner table, especially with her grandparents.
They wanted to help their communities and they had inquisitive minds.
That’s how her interest in family history started and it was the encouragement from her husband, Robert, which led her to studying an associate diploma in Local Family and Applied History at the University of New England.
It formalised her study that has consumed her lifetime that she says is driven because she is ‘just a bloody sticky beak’.
Dot Clayworth, Peggy Richards, Val Gee and Miriam Knight were like minded people who provided a wealth of knowledge and genuine friendship.
In the Tidy Towns world Lyn attended the first public meeting in Singleton when the concept was raised and she praises Cr Mal Newman for kicking off the idea.
Mal wanted Council to adopt the concept but was told no. Instead Singleton Council agreed to hold a public meeting and subsequently provided the administration support to assist with minutes and finances for a community committee that has continued since.
It was initially about town beautification but evolved into an organisation that brings together community connection.
“Through connectivity, the community comes together and the connection Tidy Towns has created is strong, every organisation is willing to give a hand if they are asked,” Lyn said.
She is also proud that Tidy Towns has helped so many other initiatives shine on the State and National Stage through the Keep Australia Beautiful Tidy Towns Awards.
“After growing up in Sydney, living in Bellingen, meeting Robert and moving to Cessnock and then Singleton, from the day I arrived in Singleton back in 1977 it felt like home and I wanted to give what I could to my community.”
Lyn, you are a treasure.
