City of Newcastle Service Award presented to Barbara Taylor 

for outstanding contributions to the wellbeing of breast cancer sufferers

    Barbara Taylor has made a huge but quiet contribution over many years to the health and wellbeing of the community of Newcastle.

    Specifically she has achieved this by volunteering large amounts of her time utilising her tai chi skills and passion and combining it with her natural empathy and caring nature to provide instruction, enthusiasm, calmness and peace to support women diagnosed with breast cancer.

    Barbara offers a secure environment for those recovering from treatment, selecting and teaching a specific set of exercises designed to assist in recovery from surgery and also aiding in developing essential meditation and relaxation techniques.

    Barbara is unfailingly generous in giving of her time to many cancer retreat weekends and the annual Breast Cancer Forums.

    Additionally she helps develop and implement Tai Chi programs for aged care facilities and for epilepsy sufferers which realise enormous physical and mental benefits for participants.

    As if that is not enough, Barbara in now considering ways to implement similar programs aimed at men’s health as she considers that she has “done so little for the men” in our community.

    Barbara is a classic quiet achiever who redirects praise towards others involved in her work. She is held in the highest esteem by those who know her and has the gratitude of the many that she has helped.

    Tonight we direct the praise to where it is richly deserved.

Monday, 29th November 2011