Ellen, a gifted special education teacher at Dubbo Public School, suffered a “bleed to the brain” at her Dubbo home on Tuesday morning and died in hospital that evening.

Her husband, Dubbo pharmacist and former federal Member for Parkes Tony Lawler, and their four children were with her.

Yesterday Tony praised the efforts of a triple-0 operator, NSW Ambulance Service paramedics and hospital staff who cared for his 48-year-old wife.

“Everyone was fabulous right through the chain,” he said.

Tony had been with his wife on Tuesday morning when she suddenly took ill and lost consciousness.

“It wasn’t something that anyone was going to be able to fix,” he said yesterday.

Born and raised in Dubbo, Ellen has been described by her husband as an “amazing wife” and “fabulous mother” to Emily, 24, Amelia, 21, Sam, 19, and Isobel, 18.

“She also had a really deep love and affection for other people, especially people who had some sort of disadvantage,” Tony said.

He believes it is one of the reasons she was “so good” at being a special education teacher.

Yesterday morning the principal of Dubbo Public School Greg Shortis visited the

family to tell of the admiration of his staff and students for Ellen,

who they would greatly miss.

Tony said the community was supporting his family through messages and visits.

Ellen’s funeral will be held at St Brigid’s Church in Dubbo at 2pm on Friday.

In lieu of floral tributes, donations may be made to Orana Early Childhood Intervention.