Narrandera Race Club Committee members are among many groups and residents who have paid tribute to the club’s esteemed life member and patron and Marj Anslow OAM, who passed away recently.

Marj gave 37 years of service to the club, including attending the last meeting in August despite her ill health.

Race Club President Graeme Mathieson said Marj worked tirelessly on the club’s finances year-round and was a regular in the office on race days for roughly 30 years of her involvement.

“Marj was always smiling at racing participants and calm under pressure when things got heated in the office when money was involved.

“She was a great leader, role model and hard-working volunteer whose presence around the club and town will be sorely missed.

“We as a club and individuals have the greatest respect for Marj and will forever be grateful for her contribution to helping to save the club and see it prosper to what it has grown into today.

Race Club secretary Michael Bailey described Marj as a “very classy lady all the way”.

“Throughout my school years I heard of Marj and her husband Phil through my interest in sport - they were big names in golf. I also recall her being finance controller at Kent's Motors (which operated where Narrandera IGA supermarket is currently located).

“Marj and I started on the Race Club committee in 1986 and 1987. Marj I think was recruited by the late Norma Rava who was secretary at the time through their golf connections.

“The Race Club was in financial difficulty and Marj with the help of the late Tom Lee worked on straightening things up and giving the club a chance to survive.

“Her financial book-keeping acumen was to be admired and gradually with hard work from many people she guided the club back into solvency.”

Mr Bailey said Marj was a very positive influence on him with her ability to adapt to ever changing racing rules schemes of distribution of money was astounding.

“She would give me and the club active profit and loss results per meeting calculated by hand to ensure bottom line was in the black or as close as possible to that.

“Marj was a great mentor and friend - we had many conversations about the Race Club, the future plan for the club and life in general.”

Mr Bailey said Marj had worked closely with himself, his wife Mara and Tom Lee in the Secretary's office on race days.

“We were all so lucky to have been closely associated with these OAM life members of NRC.”

Narrandera Meals On Wheels also spoke of Marj’s contribution to their service.

She was regarded as a wonderful member of Meals On Wheels, a very dedicated secretary of the organisation who was always extremely helpful and keen to see the service grow and prosper, while meeting the needs of the local community.

Marj was instrumental in assisting with the set up of the Narrandera Meals On Wheels Distribution Centre, which delivers a large variety of frozen meals to other services in the Riverina area.

Marj recognised, not only would this be a benefit to Narrandera clients, but also clients in the broader Riverina area.

The old saying of "if you want something done, ask a busy person" certainly described Marj as she worked tirelessly for many community organisations in Narrandera.

In lieu of flowers Narrandera Meals On Wheels made a donation to the Narrandera Community Radio Station on behalf of Marj.

“On a personal note Marj was well known for her love of colour in her outfits, which was reflected in her happy outgoing personality,” the MOW spokesperson said.

Among the other groups Marj was associated with was the Narrandera Red Cross branch which finally folded in 2020 after 105 years in the town.

Dwindling membership and an inability to fill executive positions eventually forced the closure of the branch, which was formed on August 14, 1914 at a patriotic demonstration meeting called by local Mayor Alderman Little.

It was moved unanimously that a Red Cross Fund be opened and 512 pounds was raised immediately, which was a lot of money in those days.

Eighty-six women attended a meeting the next day and a Red Cross Fund was opened and a committee formed. Red Cross headquarters later decreed that July 1, 1915 go down in history as the formation date.

The first mention of a Narrandera branch being a member of the Red Cross Society appeared in the Narrandera Argus of July 30 1915 but headquarters decreed that July 1, 1915 (the date of the inaugural meeting) must stand as the formation date.

Lack of numbers to take on positions was nothing new for the branch, which found it necessary a few years ago to change to a club instead of a branch due to finding it difficult to fill executive positions.

That change led to the branch holding only one fundraising event a year which is the Red Cross Golf Day and a raffle run in conjunction with it.

Over the years the branch was a quiet achiever in the local community, raising funds for their worthy causes and helping hands-on with cosmetic care for residents at Teloca House.

Volunteers also helped with paper work when the Red Cross mobile blood bank visited Narrandera, volunteered with Meals on Wheels deliveries and whenever disasters arose was there to lend a helping hand.

Marj Anslow was one of many long serving members of Red Cross, including Jill Sullivan and Beryl O’Neill, who all remained members until the branch closed.

She started out as branch treasurer and spent 25 years as branch president.

The branch held its wind-up luncheon at Halls Cottage, where 40 people attended, including retired Zone 25 representative Denny Scott. Narrandera branch was part of Zone 25.

Ms Scott paid tribute to the work of the Narrandera branch and the wonderful memories of what had been achieved over the years, especially under the leadership of Marj Anslow who had the ability to capture members’ interest and ensured they were welcome and an important part of the branch.

“Her hard work combined with good humour encouraged members to feel part of the Red Cross family,” she said.

Marj Anslow OAM came to Narrandera with her husband Phil in 1952.

When they first came here there was only bitumen down the middle of East Street. The shoulders were gravel.

Marj loved Narrandera as did her husband Phil and they remained adamant that they wouldn’t live anywhere else. VALE MARJ.