The long-time Nowra resident was presented with the Emma Geelan Award on Wednesday for her outstanding contribution to the Red Cross breakfast program at Nowra East Public School.

She comes in daily from 7.45am until 9am to provide a healthy and nutritious breakfast to around 60 students as part of the Good Starts Breakfast Club.

“A lot of these students never have good food, or they come without lunch,” she said.

The benefits extend beyond the children’s health – eating breakfast keeps minds on track and behaviour in line.

“We couldn’t get them into the classrooms before, now we can,” Mrs Lord said.

Mrs Lord has spent much of her time at Nowra East Public School, having had more children than she can remember attend classes there over the last 40-plus years.

With husband John, the two have adopted and fostered numerous children.

They raised two biological children together and suffered the loss of twins – one stillborn, the other succumbing to meningitis.

The two boys they care for now have just turned 18 and completed their HSC.

While the pair has decided they would not rear any more children, Mrs Lord said she would persist with breakfast club as long as she was able.

“I don’t know [how much longer I’ll do it], I’m 80 next year. If I can walk, I’ll do it,” she said.

The Emma Geelan Award is sponsored by the parents of Red Cross staff member Emma Geelan who passed away unexpectedly at a young age.

Emma’s father, Peter, grew up in Nowra and so was particularly pleased with the award going to someone local this year.