From the Porter Report April 2008 - OVER 2 CENTURIES OF COMMITMENT

Eileen McCarley and Brian, Mary and Toby Grahame with Mary

A Canberra family celebrated over 200 combined years of contribution to the city when they joined with almost 300 other long-time residents to receive their Gold Awards in a recent ceremony at Rydges Lakeside.

One of the oldest recipients was Eileen McCarley who was born in the Queanbeyan hospital in 1924. There was no hospital in Canberra at the time of her birth.

Eileen's family's association with the Nation's capital had begun in 1923 when her father, Arthur Staples, came to Canberra to work on the construction of the provisional Parliament House.

Also receiving Gold Awards were Eileen's daughter Mary who was born in Canberra in 1951, and Mary's husband, well known local real estate agent, Brian Grahame, born here in 1948.

Brian's father was another member of the family at the ceremony. Toby Grahame had come to Canberra in 1947 after military service to be with his fiancée.

Since the inception of the Canberra Gold Awards in 2005, almost 2,000 Canberrans have had the contribution they have made to the development of the city recognised.

Each year, as part of Canberra's birthday celebrations, certificates are awarded to those who have lived in the city for 50 years or more and nomination forms are available by contacting Mary Porter's office on 62050100.

"Eileen, Mary, Brian and Toby are great examples of those who have contributed so much to make Canberra what it is today," commented Mary Porter at the ceremony , "and I thank them for all they have done over the many years they have lived here."