“I saw those nurses and people do things in people’s lives and I wanted to be one of those people to impact somebody else’s life, whether it be big or small,” she said. 

“Whether it just be caring for them when they’re having a bad day in the hospital or wherever it might be.”

Now in her second year of a nursing degree with the University of New England, the Inverell CWA were impressed by Emma-Lee’s passion for community service and awarded her one of two $2000 education grants for health students in the Gwydir region. 

Group members were surprised and delighted to meet Emma-Lee at their latest meeting, where she thanked them for believing in her and gave them a glimpse at the extraordinary lengths she’s gone to to have a positive impact on people’s lives.

While living in Canberra, Emma-Lee was a charter board member for Rotaract, Rotary’s youth division. 

She said this was one of her proudest achievements.

“We ended up doing a fair few things in the community and the world,” she said. 

With Rotaract, Emma-Lee ran a mad hatter’s tea party in support of mental health, raised funds for water filters in third world countries, promoted Relay for Life and created winter packages for the homeless. 

Now that she’s back in Inverell, she hopes to help local 12-18 year olds have their own impact by establishing an Interact Club with Inverell Rotary.

“She’s obviously a very powerful and a very beautiful human being,” CWA president Desie Kearsey said.

“She’s going to make a big difference to the world, I think.”