The Rotary Club of Dubbo Macquarie will host a memorial service on Friday for “an amazing lady” who helped shape the city.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It will coincide with the celebration of Gale Eckford’s life at Buderim Crematorium Chapel, where her family and friends will say their final farewells.
Yesterday tributes flowed in for the 68-year-old who died on Monday as the result of illness.
Gale Eckford left her handprint on Dubbo, her home for decades, before moving to the Sunshine Coast.
The 2007 recipient of the Dubbo Citizen of the Year award served on many and varied community organisations in Dubbo.
Yesterday Mayor Allan Smith listed off some of the means by which she made Dubbo a better place, including membership and leadership of Taronga Western Plains Zoo Friends, Meals on Wheels, the Rotary Club of Dubbo Macquarie, Dubbo City Tourism Association, Dubbo City Tourism Advisory Council, Macquarie Valley Food and Wine, Dubbo Sister City Committee, Friends of Shoyoen Garden, Dubbo City Development Corporation and the Regional Advisory Council of Charles Sturt University.
“A generous and spirited person, Gale Eckford will be sadly missed by those who knew her,” he said.
Fellow Rotarian and friend to Mrs Eckford, Natalie Bramble also offered a tribute yesterday.
“Gale touched so many people in so many ways and did so much for Dubbo,” she said.
“She was always enthusiastic and encouraged new ideas.”
Longtime friend to Mrs Eckford, Jayne Bleechmore said she was the “most cheerful, enthusiastic and energetic person I’ve ever known”.
“Her support and encouragement of everyone she met was inexhaustible,” Mrs Bleechmore said.
“Gale maintained this remarkable attitude throughout her illness. She loved life and she loved people. We’ve all lost an amazing lady.”
The memorial service in Dubbo will be held from 10am on Friday at the Shoyoen Japanese Garden in Elizabeth Park.
Mrs Eckford is survived by husband Derek, sons Stuart, Nigel and Jason and their families.