THE "voice of the Hunter River", Vera Deacon, has received an honorary degree from the University of Newcastle.
The Newcastle writer, historian, and philanthropist accepted a Doctor of Letters at a graduation ceremony at the University of Newcastle on Wednesday.
Her nomination was in recognition of her "truly lifelong passion, commitment and tireless effort" in the conservation of the region's history, her overarching social justice values, and for her important social and philanthropic contributions to the University of Newcastle and Hunter community.
Although she said she had not yet come to terms with being an honorary doctor, the 94-year-old Hunter resident said it had been a wonderful surprise.
"It was a bit of a shock," she said. "I am overwhelmed. I can think of a lot of people just as deserving as I am. However, I have been told, 'Vera, relax. Take it easy, you've earned it'. So I am relaxing, and I am taking it easy."
Throughout her life, Mrs Deacon has advocated for the environment, Indigenous education and rights, women's rights, and the preservation of local history.
She has become regarded as a significant primary source of information on the local area.
"To know a good part of your history helps you to understand how we got like we are, and the mistakes we made. Hopefully, we can learn from those mistakes, and avoid repeating them," she said.
Mrs Deacon said it was her upbringing on the Mosquito and Dempsey Islands of the Hunter River that had sparked her interest in caring for the environment.
Her connection to the area and it's history runs deep, as does her desire to preserve it's future.
"I used to row my boat to work during the war. I'd row towards the steelworks and up to Ingall Street, get on my bicycle, and ride up into Mayfield where I had a job," she said. "We loved the river, and we loved the islands, and I saw a lot of the pollution of the river. It was not only me that it upset. It upset a lot of people, because they were just using the river as a sewer.
"I think people should care about their local environment. I have planted trees on Kooragang wetlands, riding on the idea that if someone plants a tree, if they are fortunate, and look after it, it will live on long after them, and endure."
In 2008, she was honoured by the University of Newcastle for her philanthropic contributions with the official launch of the Vera Deacon Regional History Fund in 2008. Mrs Deacon, OAM, was awarded Newcastle City's Freeman of the City in 2019 for her achievement and service, and in thanks for the cultural riches her work had provided.
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