Dubbo nurse Sherle-Lee Baker, 46, was “affectionate, trusting and loving”.

She drowned during a river accident in the Macquarie River in January 2009 while attempting to save her 19-year-old son who got into trouble in the water.

Sherle-Lee’s father, Gordon Seiler, was in Dubbo this week to lay flowers on her grave and mark what would have been his daughter’s 48th birthday.

He also spoke with Dubbo City Council about erecting a memorial for Sherle-Lee at the site where she drowned.

Mr Seiler said his daughter believed she was born to save lives “and she died saving lives”.

He said he’d wanted to create a memorial for Sherle-Lee ever since the accident.

“It will be something for my daughter and something everybody will recognise,” Mr Seiler said.

This week he discussed the matter with council.

Council’s director of parks and landcare Ken Rogers said he was waiting on Mr Seiler’s submission of a formal request and the application would be considered in “due course”.

“It will be something special for me,” Mr Seiler said.

“It won’t only mean my life but it will also mean something to the Dubbo community.

“There are so many people here that knew my daughter.”

The “loving and gentle” wife and mother was an active member of the Seventh Day Adventist and St Brigid’s Catholic churches in Dubbo.

St Brigid’s parish priest Father Paul Devitt described Sherle-Lee as “the most caring lady” and Seventh Day Adventist Church pastor Roger Ward said she “really left her mark” and would not be forgotten.

“She gave a lot of time and money to the church, she was liked by everyone and will be sadly missed,” Pastor Ward said last year.

Mr Seiler said it had been difficult to move on.

He said Sherle-Lee’s death was “a disaster” but “there’s nothing we can do about these things”.

“I only wish my daughter was still by my side.”