Helen Trustum is our local Woman of the Year

WRITING a book, by hand, not on the computer, took Helen Trustum three years.

For anyone else that would be a major feat but Richmond Valley's Woman of the Year for 2016 has written 10 books about local history and is only now learning to use a computer.

Her first book was a history of her Bentley family. Old Time Country Halls published in 1980 is the book she is most proud of and included stories from 175 country halls.

"I think its important that local history is preserved for the next generation," she said. "I've been putting it down on paper."

Covering history from Murwillumbah to Grafton, at 70 years of age, Ms Trustum is actively involved in her local community through organising the Bentley Art Show.

Born in Tuckurimba in 1945, Ms Trustum was educated at Tuckurimba and Lismore High Schools.

When she left school she worked on the family farm for two years then went into nursing at Campbell Hospital in Coraki in 1963. She married Allan Trustum in 1966 and they had two sons, Ritchie and Rodney.

The family moved to Bentley in 1974 and started the Bentley Downs Charolais Stud and began exhibiting at North Coast Shows in 1970 with horses and Charolais in 1982.

Ms Trustum was the first woman in Australia to be awarded Life Member of the Charolais Society in 1998.

In 1985, she was Australia Day Citizen of the Year.

Congratulations to Helen Trustum.

Helen's books

1981: The Trustum Family Story

1985: In and Around Bentley

1988: Casino Show One Hundred Years

1990: My Mother's Memories

1995: On The Cream Run

1998: Old Time Country Halls

2001: Sale-O Sale-O

2004: It's Showtime

2005: Nelson Remembers

2009: 100 Years of Kyogle Show