Mrs Perry, who is suffering from stage 4 terminal cancer, received the award at a luncheon last month.
She completed at least 35 years’ service to the Girl Guide movement, as a Girl Guide leader from the age of 17 until well after her daughters had concluded their involvement with the Guiding movement.
Mrs Perry was the leader of the Gleniti Brownie pack and subsequently was one of the instigators of the first Pippin pack in Timaru (pre-Brownies).
She was a PTA representative and deputy treasurer on the Gleniti School PTA, and became a Rotarian in her own right, after many years supporting her husband in that role.
She supported Timaru Rotary with many projects, including a very successful auction sale, finally ending her Rotary involvement after a successful year as Sergeant at Arms of Timaru Rotary. After her time with Rotary, she joined Lions, and is a member of the local MS committee, continuing since her cancer diagnosis, and plans to actively support the committee and its projects as long as she is able.
Mrs Perry has supported her husband in his charitable works, often attending events on his behalf.
Until Covid-19 struck, she was a volunteer at the Croft Rest Home in Timaru, taking "chat sessions" with residents who wished to attend.
For 14 years, Mrs Perry supported one of her children, who was seriously ill, spending many weeks away from home living in Christchurch as a support person.
In March of this year, she received a diagnosis of stage 4 terminal cancer with months, rather than years, to live.
Despite this, she is still smiling with the hope the medication she is on will hold the cancer at bay for a little longer than was first thought.
