The 90 year-old was born and grew up on the south coast of NSW in Dunmore, before making a move to Sydney to study nursing when she was 18.
After her studies Mrs Palmer lived in various towns for a short time, moving to Cowra, back to Sydney and then to Goulburn.
It wasn’t until she left Goulburn that she had found her home, moving to Deni in 1959 with her husband Jim (dec.).
Mr and Mrs Palmer first lived on the corner of Decimus and Poictiers Sts, and she says there have been big changes since they moved there.
‘‘When I lived there it was the last house in Poictiers St,’’ she said.
‘‘There was only a dirt road after Decimus St so it was the end of the residential area. There was a sawmill just across the road from us at the time.
‘‘We used to have a train and air service to and from Deni but now they’ve gone.
‘‘There have been a terrific number of changes since I’ve lived here.’’
Mrs Palmer settled in Deni and they had five children — Michael, Kathy, Jan and twins Anthony and Trevor (dec.).
When her children were all at school she started working at the post office.
‘‘My children all went to the George St School with the twins starting high school when it closed,’’ Mrs Palmer said.
‘‘I then needed something to do so I worked at the post office.
‘‘We were friends with the postmaster and he’d just lost some staff members.
‘‘He first had me there just as a relief worker for a few months, but I ended up working there for 16 years.
‘‘I was there when they moved from the old post office to the new building next door.’’
Mrs Palmer spent her spare time on her two passions, giving back to the community and tennis.
She volunteered for the Meals on Wheels service and for the Anglican Church, mainly helping with catering.
‘‘I did a lot of waitressing for the Anglican Guild,’’ she said.
‘‘I would cook and help out in the kitchen and then go out and serve the food.
‘‘My husband was a part of Legacy so I also catered for their events.
‘‘I never had a car so I walked everywhere. Even after Jim and I moved over the north I’d walk over the bridge most days.
‘‘I also did a lot of sewing. I made my own clothes and clothes for the kids.’’
Mrs Palmer played tennis until she was 73, but stopped playing after suffering a heart attack.
‘‘I retired in 1988 and then looked after Jim when he started suffering from dementia in 2001.
‘‘I travelled to China for my 80th birthday in 2008, but unfortunately Jim couldn’t come with me.
‘‘He was living in Navorina and he eventually passed in 2009.
‘‘The staff were really good at Nav and now I’m living there myself.
‘‘My friends meet up with me every Wednesday when we go out for coffee.
‘‘I’ve been very lucky to have lived such a fortunate life.’’
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