Mrs Hatton has been honoured for her service to the museums sector through the Lady Denman Heritage Complex, and as a supporter of youth, social welfare and historical organisations in the Shoalhaven 13 years after her husband John was appointed an officer of the Order of Australia.

A former Shoalhaven mayor and long-serving independent South Coast MP, Mr Hatton said he was tremendously proud of his wife and the way she had worked to help reflect and shape her local community.

That started when Mrs Hatton’s three children were young, and she became involved in a baby health committee, school P and C groups, school canteens and was secretary of both the Huskisson Scouts and Girl Guides for many years.

As her children grew up, Mrs Hatton became a pioneer at Jervis Bay Meals on Wheels and helped start the Sussex Inlet Toastmistresses Club to gain better public speaking skills, all the while meeting the challenges that came with her husband’s work, including frequently having to move her family at short notice because of death threats emanating from Mr Hatton’s work spearheading the Woodward Royal Commission on police corruption.

Her attention turned to history in 1981 when community members, headed by Mr Hatton, returned the locally-built Sydney Harbour ferry the Lady Denman to Huskisson, and Mrs Hatton wanted to give it a fitting home.

She inspired an active group of volunteers to preserve the region’s boat building, fishing, indigenous and non-indigenous history, leading to the creation of the Lady Denman Heritage Complex that continues to grow and thrive.

Much of that growth has been due to Mrs Hatton’s enthusiasm and drive, which saw her twice win the Queensland Museum’s prize as the most outstanding student in a university course for community museum management.

The expertise gained through the course has benefited many, with Mrs Hatton being involved in museums at local, regional, state and national levels.

At the same time the Lady Denman Heritage Complex, complete with its Vera Hatton Gallery, has continued to gain recognition as a centre of excellence, housing one of only four collections of its type in the world.