She was awarded for her ongoing service to the Cobram community over a number of years and projects, including making booklets for the Cobram Cemetary, organising various fundraising events and participating in various boards and committees.
Ms McKay, who works at the Cobram BP service station, said she was flabbergasted when she found out she had been given the honour.
“I felt a bit weird ... I didn’t feel that I do anything exciting, I just try to help people as much as I can,” she said.
“It was a lot of stuff I do because I want to do it, not because I have to do it.”
Ms McKay was told about the honour a number of days ago, but had to keep it secret from everyone, including her husband Colin, until the official announcement was made.
“I actually didn’t know whether to run around in circles or jump up and down, I had to be cool,” she said.
“I only told my husband yesterday (June 13) morning after it came up on Facebook.
“I woke up and I said to him ‘I really don’t know how to tell you this’ and he’s going ‘uh oh’ ... and I just said ‘look I’ve been awarded a Queen’s birthday honour today’.
“He just said ‘Really? Really?’.”
While there was no singular achievement Ms McKay pinpointed as the one that got her onto the list, she reckons it was a combination of charity efforts and community contributions that helped her make the grade.
“I just get an idea in my head, I go right I’m gonna do this and people help ... I’m in a position where I work and live that I can do those extra things,” she said.
“Whenever I ask for something, or for some help, there’s always people that’ll help me.
“I just do my thing ... I put everything into what I do.”
Ms McKay has been nominated as Citizen of the Year in the Moira Shire and Cobram Rotary Club Australia Day awards in 2022, as well as being awarded in The Fred Awards from the Fred Hollows Foundation for showing outstanding care and compassion for others.
In light of her prestigious award, Ms McKay thanked the wide group of people around her who have helped with her contributions.
“I’d like to thank my husband, my kids, my mum and dad, and the Cobram community to support me in what I do.”
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