‘Elaine was an incredible lady who never looked for accolades and has given so much to the community,’ said Debbie Butler, longtime friend and honorary president of the Mullumbimby hospital auxiliary.
Elaine and her husband Stan Robinson moved to Mullumbimby in 1955 from Eureka with their first two children Terry and Christine, and their next two children John and Margie were born in Mullumbimby.
Elaine fully supported Stan in his role as mayor of Mullumbimby’s Municipal Council and as the first Byron Shire president. In her role as Lady Mayoress Elaine assisted in starting up the Mullumbimby Tidy Town committee, was a foundation member of Meals on Wheels and gave more than 60 years service to Mullumbimby hospital auxiliary.
‘Elaine holds a 50-years service badge, which was presented with in 2012, and she became a patron of the auxiliary in 2016,’ said Debbie.
The Mullumbimby hospital was located in Stuart Street and Elaine was instrumental in lobbying for the new hospital in Azalea Street and tirelessly raised funds to assist in equipping the hospital.
When the site was being closed Elaine was again a founding member of the Mullumbimby Hospital Action Group (MHAG) as well as sitting on the steering committee for Byron Central Hospital.
The Uniting Church was an important part of Elaine’s life and she took great pleasure in teaching Sunday school, being involved with the Women’s Fellowship and becoming an elder in the Uniting Church.
According to her son, John Robinson, Elaine’s passion was the Uniting Church Op-Shop where she worked each week, growing many of the plants that were sold there. The plant section has now been christened as ‘Elaine’s Shed’ with the sign already in place.
‘We don’t know how many plants she potted over the years, but it would have been thousands,’ said John.
‘Even when she recently came out of hospital, all she wanted to do was to get her hands into some soil and pot some plants.’
Elaine reached her 90th birthday in December 2017 and was fully engaged in life right to the end.
Elaine died peacefully with her family around her.
