A retired history teacher from Cambewarra wants the historic, David Alexander Berry flood boat returned to its rightful place on the banks of the Shoalhaven River at Nowra.
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Lynne Allen, a "ferocious" advocate for the preservation of the bridge over the Shoalhaven River, has been hard at work on her next campaign.
The flood boat was vandalised more than 20 years ago, and then restored.
Since then, it has been stored in a wooden container.
"It's not ideal for a timber boat, especially in the heat," Mrs Allen said.
"I'd like to see it displayed on the river bank, where it belongs.
"It's one of a pair donated by Alexander David Berry in the 1880s.
"It was there until it was removed because of vandalism in 1997. The pavilion still exists but it looks as if it could be in the way of the new bridge-works.
"We need to find a place on the riverbank for the boat, for the people of Nowra. We've been very patient and the time is right."
The long-serving president of the Shoalhaven Historical Society has applied for state heritage listing for the boat.
The application lodged about a year ago was still pending on Friday.
"We're hoping that it will come through, and it will make it easier to get funding to keep it housed," she said.
Usually shy of the limelight, Mrs Allen was asked about her passion for keeping history alive during a visit to the office of Kiama MP Gareth Ward on Friday.
She was visiting Mr Ward, her former history student, under the ruse they would talk all things history.
Mr Ward then presented Mrs Allen with a well-earned surprise and named her as the Kiama electorate woman of the year.
"You are a leading light for the whole community, I've been able to experience that," Mr Ward said.
"Many of our cohort picked history because Lynne was the teacher, that's the sort of gravitas and respect she has, and she has that across the wider community too.
"Can I not underscore the role Lynne played in preserving and protecting the old Shoalhaven River bridge. There were a lot of views expressed about that, Lynne was ferocious in its preservation and protection. I have no doubt the reason it will still be there in the years to come is because of Lynne's advocacy."
Mrs Allen said growing up her father, a historian, fostered a love of history in her from a young age.
Her family's connection to the Shoalhaven extends back to the 1850s.
"I think that helps my passion for local history - which knows no bounds," Mrs Allen said.
"My desire to protect our heritage knows no bounds, and can make me a little ferocious at times, but I think it's very important to do so."
