Not only was it a celebration of two decades of a social outlet for local war widows, but the event also signified the end of the club as, sadly, numbers have dwindled as members pass away.

In its heyday, the club had 48 members.

Ruby Riley started the club two decades ago on February 9, 2001, and was still at its helm until its dissolution in late February this year, on the day of the anniversary luncheon to honour Ruby's involvement.

"Forster started a War Widows guild club and I joined and I attended for two years, and then I thought, 'why can't I try and get one for Taree?', because Forster's 50 kilometres away (from Taree)," Ruby explained.

In her 20 years as co-ordinator for the club, the 95-year-old organised countless social events for the members, with weekly card games, soup days, social outings, bus trips, and, she proudly recounts, 32 week-long holidays.

"I had somebody that would go and visit the sick. I started tai chi for the war widows. For the first six years I cooked pumpkin scones for morning tea."

In addition to all the work she did, while she was still able, Ruby also took a trip to Sydney each year to represent the Taree War Widows at the Australian War Widows NSW annual general meeting.

"It wasn't a hard job, because everybody helped along the way. It was very good," Ruby said.

"I enjoyed what I was doing with the war widows. We had a very happy group. I was never bored, and I loved every minute of it."

As much value as the group has bought to Ruby's life, she has also experienced a lot of loss.

"I made great friends. They're lovely ladies, but in the last few years I've lost so many of them. The last one to pass away was in June last year," she said.

At the end of the club's life, there were seven members left, with only three being able to come to meetings. It was also becoming more difficult for Ruby, as she moved permanently to GLAICA House in Tuncurry from Storm Village in Taree in October 2020, and was still driving until only recently, another point of pride for the independent woman.

Ruby knew her husband, Alf, who was born and lived most of his life in Cundletown, from childhood. They married during World War II. Alf enlisted in the air force in August 28, 1941 and served most of his time in the South Sea Islands.

Alf died in 1975 at age 55 from a sudden heart attack. As Ruby was only 49, she didn't qualify for a War Widows pension. It wasn't until nearly 20 years later, after Ruby had applied a few times, that she was finally granted the war widows pension after somebody set a precedent being granted the pension because their husband had died from heart problems.

Ruby became heavily involved in the Legacy Club in Taree for 30 years. She was also a member of the Laurel Club for 30 years, and she held a position on the committee for 29 years out of those 30.

"Through the years I was five times president, and 27 out of the 30 years social director," Ruby said.

As if the War Widows, Legacy and Laurel clubs weren't enough, she was also the secretary/treasurer for the Taree RSL Garden Club for 17 years, and held positions on the school P&C, the local hall committee, the Cundletown Progress Association, and started the St Thomas's Church (Cundletown) Women's Auxiliary.

Now, after having suffered a stroke in August 2020, Ruby spends regular time at the rehab hospital in Tuncurry. To keep herself busy she tends her African violets and takes part in regular activities at GLAICA House.

"They've got so much that I can do here," she said.

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