As the community prepares for the highly anticipated Orbost Shire Reunion and Civil Civic Celebration on May 2, the fifth instalment of the retrospective series shines a light on a woman who has become the friendly face of local service: Annette Farley.
Annette’s journey with local government began in 1989 when, as a motivated 16-year-old, she beat out a competitive field of applicants to secure a traineeship with what was then the Shire of Orbost.
In those formative years, she cut her teeth under the mentorship of respected local figures including John Court, Gary Mawby, and Stan Weatherall.
The mid-1990s brought the upheaval of municipal amalgamations.
Annette took a redundancy package and transitioned into the private sector, but she never truly left the heart of the community.
While raising three children – all of whom have inherited her trademark conscientious work ethic – Annette remained a familiar sight in town, working at the local IGA and the bottle shop.
Known by many as a go-getter who is never phased by a challenge, Annette is often the first to volunteer her time to help those
in need.
It was this spirit of service that eventually led her back to the East Gippsland Shire workforce in 2003.
For the past two decades, Annette has been a true jack of all trades at the Orbost Service Centre.
Officially working in customer service, she famously wears many hats – serving as a librarian, leading children’s story time, and coordinating school holiday activities.
Colleagues and residents alike know that if there is a special occasion, Annette will be dressed for the part, bringing a sense of joy and professionalism to her role.
Her dedication has seen her travel to the furthest reaches of the shire, providing essential services to residents in Omeo, Delegate and Bendoc.
However, Annette’s greatest display of strength came in 2018 when she began a gruelling two-year battle with breast cancer.
Following intense rounds of radiation and chemotherapy, Annette showed her characteristic nothing fazes me attitude by returning to full-time work in 2020.
Today, she is in remission and continues to serve the public with the same willingness and warmth as always.
Outside of work, Annette is a devoted family woman and the incredibly proud Nan of twins, Jasper and Harlow.
Annette Farley remains a vital asset
to Orbost.
Her story of lifelong service and personal resilience will be among the many celebrated when former staff and councillors gather for the reunion on May 2.
