Moving to Levin in 1963 with late husband Peter and raising four girls, it was through her two youngest that Rosemary became involved with the Levin Athletics Club. Taking on the 'baton', she has been its president since the mid-1980s helping organise local meets, the Colgate Games in 2009 and 2016, and supporting school athletic programmes.
She is also a life member of Athletics Manawatu-Whanganui, chairwoman of the Manawatu-Whanganui Children's Athletics and a regional delegate of the New Zealand Children's Athletics Association.
With no plans to 'retire' just yet, although adamant she will not be organising another Colgate Games, Rosemary was officiating at the Games last week and will be taking a team away for the Inter-provincial North Island championships at the end of the month.
"The Colgate Games is where you really get hooked. It's the atmosphere and seeing the enjoyment of the kids getting ribbons, pendants and medals. It's just being there to support them. We have a lot of talented children in this area."
In 2010 Rosemary was awarded a Civic Honour that also recognised her work with her local church, organising and running the church fair, monthly markets and Women's Fellowship meetings, co-ordinating and driving for Meals on Wheels, and volunteering for more than 30 years with the 2nd Levin Girls Brigade Company.
"When I got the letter [confirming the QSM] I wondered if they had sent it to the right person. I can think of other people who have done similar things and they're just as deserving."
