Proud Yarrawonga Lion and Made with Love Turban Angel founder Debbie Van Corler was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) over the Australia Day weekend for service to the community through charitable contributions.
“I’ve decided it’s not the awards, it’s the people in your life that think you are worthy of these awards.”
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This quote by newly awarded Order of Australia medallist (OAM), Yarrawonga’s Debbie Van Corler sums her up to a tee, always looking to others and those that she loves when recognised for all the wonderful work she does both locally and across the region.
This Australia Day, Debbie was one of only three people in the region awarded an OAM that recognises Australians who have demonstrated outstanding service or exceptional achievement.
Over the past 26 years, Debbie has been an integral part of the Lions Club, joining the Lake Charm Mystic Park Lions Club in 1999 before transferring to the Yarrawonga Club where she became the first female member in 2010.
During this time, Debbie has committed herself tirelessly to Lions, with her work benefiting both locals and people abroad especially with the inauguration of the Made with Love Turban Angels Project.
That is why it’s no surprise she has been recognised with this prestigious award.
“It’s surreal. I feel extremely humble and it doesn’t quite sit well because I’m just me,” Debbie said.
“As well as the enormity of the award, that still hasn’t hit yet. To me, it is not just my award. This is for the Lions and my girls, the Turban Angels.
“I’m merely the face of the Turban Angels project.
“I do what I do, but I don’t feel I do anything different to a lot of members of Lions like Joan (Tufvesson, past president and media officer).”
Whilst speaking with Debbie, Joan is right by her side, adding accomplishments that Debbie is too humble to mention.
You can see the close relationship the two have. Fighting like sisters but with an unbreakable bond.
“Right behind my right shoulder is Joan. She is my wing-woman,” Debbie said.
“I would not be here without her. She’s amazing and pushes me to achieve what I achieve.
“She and the Lions have made this all worthwhile. With the Turban Angels, I may have been the instigator and had the idea of the project, but it’s the Lions support that did it all.
“Both the Angels and Lions are my family. I’ve had some rough times and if it hadn’t have been for some of the Lions, I’d never have got through it.
“Lions fills a place in your life, in your heart. You get to give back to your community.
“I’ve got to a stage now where I can’t physically do some of the jobs I used to be able to do, so by being secretary I feel like I’m still doing my bit.”
Debbie has held almost all roles within Lions being Treasurer of the Lake Charm Mystic Park Lions Club from 2003 – 2004, President 2005 – 2006 and Membership Chairperson 2006 before joining Yarrawonga and accepting roles within the Lions District 201V2.
Whilst in Lions, she has served in the roles of Assistant Secretary and Directory Chairman 2010, Catering Chairperson 2010-2021, Bulletin Officer 2012, 50th Anniversary Co-Ordinator 2014, 2nd Vice President 2014 and 2020, Youth Committee Member 2015, Director 2015-2020, Facebook Co-Ordinator 2015-2022, President 2016, Turban Angels Chairperson since 2016, 3rd Vice President 2019, Lioness Chairperson 2019-2020, Secretary 2020-2022 and Grants Committee Member 2021-2022.
As part of the Lions District 201V2 Debbie has been District Convention Secretary 2019, Turban Angels Portfolio Cabinet Officer since 2019, Community Health Portfolio Cabinet Officer 2019-2022, Lioness Clubs Portfolio Cabinet Officer 2019-2022 and Disaster Relief Committee Member 2022.
Justifiably over the years, Debbie’s work has been recognised, with several from the Moira Shire Council as well as the highest honour within Lions International.
In 2016 Debbie’s ‘Made with Love Chemo Turban Project’ was awarded Community Organisation of the Year with the project also given the title ‘Telstra Angels’ by Edge FM in the same year.
More recently in 2019 Debbie jointly won the Yarrawonga Citizen of the Year whilst also claiming the Moira Shire Citizen of the Year.
For her ongoing commitment to Lions, Debbie has been presented with awards from Lions International including the Secretary Award, the Chris August Award, and a Leadership Medal whilst also being a Melvin Jones Fellow, Barry J Palmer Fellow and a Guiding Lion.
Whilst being involved in hundreds of projects over the years alongside the Lions club, or when putting her hand up personally to help those in need such as during the 2019/20 bushfires, Debbie’s greatest achievement is her long lasting marriage.
“My greatest achievement in life is fifty years of marriage to Eddie,” Debbie said.
“These days 50 years of marriage is pretty good!
“He has supported me in all my endeavours, and we have always been each other’s biggest supporters.
“Being in Lions for 26 years, I have had many ideas, or been involved in plenty of projects, but he has always been there to hash it all out with me at the end of the day.
Debbie with her best friend, wingwoman and fellow Lions member Joan Tufvesson who is immensely proud of Debbie’s achievement, display part of Yarrawonga’s flagship project.
“The Turban Angels is also up there as my greatest achievement. These are my girls. I love them like family and am so grateful for what they do with me to bring this project to life and help those who are suffering with a cancer diagnosis.
“Most of the ladies have had some form of cancer themselves or a partner that has and it is just a mental health day for them but where they also know, they are assisting someone else who has been in the same position as them.”
Whilst growing up and spending many of her early years in Wodonga, Debbie has a strong love for Yarrawonga where she has achieved so many milestones.
“We moved to Yarrawonga 20 years ago after we sold our caravan park in Wodonga and decided to retire here because it was only 45 minutes away from home,” Debbie said.
“Our family was in Wodonga but we figured that they would still travel 45 minutes to see us. We used to come here when we were kids so I’ve always been to, and had an admiration for Yarrawonga.
“I love Yarrawonga. It is my town.”
Debbie’s best friend, wingwoman and Yarrawonga Lions past president, media officer and spokesperson Joan Tufvesson concluded that Debbie has been deservedly recognised with this prestigious honour that is an award that also means a lot to the Lions Club as the Turban Angels is Yarrawonga’s flagship project.
“Debbie’s journey in Lions has been one of innovation. Breaking the mould, Debbie was the first female to join the Yarrawonga Lions Club in 2010,” Joan said.
“She has also taken on esteemed positions at District level working in many different portfolios, most recently in disaster relief but her proudest achievement, and the one that has undoubtedly reached the most needy, has been her work with the Turban Angels.
“This passion project was born out of Debbie’s experience seeing her own mother suffer through cancer treatment. Specifically, Debbie struggled to find a turban for her mother to wear during her chemotherapy sessions and was subsequently determined to find a way to bring dignity to those who need it most.
“In honour of her memory, Debbie leads a team of compassionate and hard working ‘angels’ who make free turbans for cancer patients. These have been placed in oncology wards throughout Australia and in six different countries.
“Always free of charge, the project has produced over 70,000 turbans to date. “Debbie continued working on this project when she herself was being treated for breast cancer - a true reflection of her ongoing commitment to help others.
“If somebody is in trouble, and it doesn’t matter who it is, she straight away thinks, ‘I better go and see if I can help’. She’s always there lending a hand and checking in on people.
“She does a lot for Lions and the community, not just the Turban Angels.
“The Order of Australia, therefore, seems a fitting achievement and pinnacle for Debbie to have reached.
“The Yarrawonga Lions Club congratulates and thanks Debbie for everything she does for our community and our club.”
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