Narelle Hewett (Hart) is the woman featured on the new mural on the southern wall of the Hoult Centre. 

The mural was commissioned by Shoalhaven Council and painted by Claire Foxton after council asked the Historical Society if there was any surviving WW2 WAAF Shoalhaven women.                                 

The society came up with Narelle Hewett (Hart) who had served as a young WAAF recruit with the Base Torpedo Unit, out at Nowra Hill.

Narelle could not understand why council wanted to put her face on a building, but enjoyed recalling her WAAF days for council staff, Ms Foxton and Gerri Walker from the Historical Society. 

Narelle had lived in Bridge Road for most of her life and now lives at Brereton Street IRT facility. After the war service, and also Melbourne for a time, Narelle went to work at Woodhills which was sold to Burns Phillips in the late 1940s. Over the 33 years Narelle spent working there, the premises sold the same type of products but the name of the shop changed a number of times.

Narelle was swept off her feet in 1979 and married local hairdresser, Ted Hewett, who unfortunately passed away two and a half years later.

“To this day anyone who knows Narelle can tell you she has a sharp mind, suffers no fools and has a humorous wit. This mural on the wall by Claire Foxton is a worthy tribute,” Gerri said.