FAMILY and friends of public relations stalwart Meg Purser say they are pleased to see her posthumously named Charlestown Woman of the Year for her contribution to the community, but that she didn't do it for accolades and preferred to stay behind the scenes.
Charlestown MP Jodie Harrison bestowed the award on Ms Purser of Eleebana on Monday - International Women's Day - after she received a nomination from Ms Purser's friend and colleague Craig Eardley. Ms Purser, the managing director of Purser Corporate Communication, died on January 14 from breast cancer.
Ms Purser's partner Scott Mills said he was "so proud" of her.
"For a lot of years I said to her 'You should do something' and she'd say 'No, I prefer to be in the background' and that's the way she wanted to be and that was her business.
"She either got people in the paper or out of the paper. I thought a lot of times she did stuff and it wasn't recognised and this is just the proof in the pudding that everybody did appreciate what she did... I know it's a bit late, but it's something."
He said Ms Purser wouldn't want to be in the spotlight.
"She'd be embarrassed, she'd think there were a lot of other people doing a lot more and better stuff than she was."
Ms Purser's father Bob agreed.
"It's great for her to be recognised by her community and through the local member is a special way to be recognised," he said.
"I think though she would have been embarrassed.
"She was a girl who happily got up in front of people, when she was younger she was on stage in shows and she didn't mind emceeing events, but when it came to stuff she regarded as newsworthy, she saw the client as the source of news, not her... [but] she'd be flattered and she would have loved it in her own way."
Mr Mills said Ms Purser relished giving time to many charitable organisations, especially the Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation, Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and Got Your Back Sista.
"Anyone who would ask her to do something she'd be there straight away doing it," he said.
"She just got the biggest kick out of helping anyone and it wouldn't have been just work, it was neighbours, friends, anyone - the drop of a hat, she'd be there."
Mr Eardley said he missed Ms Purser, who he said was a leader in the public relations industry who connected people, mentored young graduates particularly women and rolled up her sleeves to get jobs done.
He said he was inspired to nominate her for the award after HMRI chair Kyle Loades spoke at her funeral.
"He was making the point that she did so much for the region, appropriately in the background, but he said it's a shame there aren't accolades for people like Meg.
"I was struggling to know what to do and I thought 'If there's an award I will nominate her'."
Ms Harrison said Ms Purser helped organise the International Childrens Games in 2014, which showcased the region to the world.
"She just kept popping up at things that are really intrinsic to who we are here and what we do," she said. "I thought 'There is no better person to get this award'."
