SHE’S not one to hog the spotlight, but on Friday night Carol Higginbottom took centre stage when the Zonta Club of Armidale lauded her for her charity work.
Ms Higginbottom, who volunteers tirelessly as president of cancer charity Can Assist, was presented the Woman of Achievement award.
Zonta’s Terrie Crick nominated the popular city figure, saying the “quiet achiever” had done wonderful things for the community.
“She doesn’t go out and broadcast openly what she does,” Ms Crick said.
“She goes grocery shopping for patients, she picks up and delivers their scripts, she fills out forms for them and she arranges transport and accommodation for patients in Sydney.”
On top of all this, Ms Higginbottom also coordinates an annual Melbourne Cup event as a major fundraiser for the charity.
The function is held at her own home, so there’s about 300 people in her own garden,” Ms Crick said. “She organises Can Assist to do all the catering. They completely run the whole event.”
Ms Crick said Ms Higginbottom was reluctant to be nominated for the award at first, but finally agreed to be put in the spotlight when she learned the prize was a donation to the charity.
“We donate $500 to their charity, so Can Assist received $500 from our club,” she said.
“She received nothing except a potted plant.
“She’s just an amazing, amazing woman.”
