A Liverpool-born grandma was so “gobsmacked” to win a Medal of the Order of Australia that she thought it was a driving fine.
Jean Bruce, 73, was born in Kensington in 1948 in a working-class household on Saxony Road. She emigrated to Perth, Australia, in 1983 and volunteered for 30 years, continuing to work through a cancer diagnosis two years ago.
She was told she had won a Medal of the Order of Australia – the highest recognition for outstanding achievement and service for her work in the community – last week.
Jean, who now lives in Cockburn, said: “My husband handed me the letter and said it was for me. I looked at the envelope and thought I’d got a fine on my driver's licence. Then when it said I’d won an award I thought it was a joke!
“I’m very grateful and honoured. I’ve never had so much attention in my life and it’s a bit overwhelming. I was absolutely gobsmacked.
“All I’m doing is helping my fellow man. I’m a compassionate person. For somebody else to think it’s fantastic is amazing! I’m just doing it to help somebody else.”
The retired special needs teacher has volunteered for Lifeline, offering support and someone to talk to for those experiencing suicidal thoughts. She worked for the Salvation Army for 20 years and now volunteers for about six different refuges for the homeless.
On one wedding anniversary with her husband, Robert, Jean popped in to say hello to a function at the refuge and they ended up staying all evening. One man in his 50s, who had been on the streets for 18 years, happened to have a Liverpool shirt on.
Jean, a lifelong Liverpool fan, couldn’t believe the coincidence and immediately found common ground with the man, who was Australian but followed the football club closely.
Around two years ago, Jean was diagnosed with cancer. She had five months off volunteering during chemotherapy but has still continued to help her community.
She said: “It slowed me down but I didn’t stop. Some days it’s quite hard to get out of bed but I carry on because I’ve got things to do.
“I’m still here annoying everybody! Everyone knows me by my accent even if they don’t know my name.”
Jean reflected fondly on her time in Liverpool, which she visits every couple of years and where she still has strong family connections. She grew up in a house of seven in Kensington that had no hot water and an outside toilet.
She went to Canon Kennedy school and later worked on Lord Nelson Street. Her passion for volunteering began in Liverpool as she was closely involved with Kensington Fields Community Centre.
She ran a women and babies group and said the centre was a big part of their social lives.
She said: “It was a happy childhood. I loved it. It was a great time and made for great family connections.
“I miss Liverpool dreadfully. There have been many times I’ve wished I was back home and felt torn between two places.”
