Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese travelled to Armidale to award her the honour of life membership, in a small ceremony of party members on Monday.

The Second World War veteran and widow to Armidale's last Labor MP said she had joined the party in about 1971 or 1972, about 50 years ago.

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She is on a first-name basis with Anthony Albanese. But then again, she knew Gough Whitlam personally too, even before he was Prime Minister.

"He was in the same [RAAF] squadron as my husband," Mr McCarthy said.

Mr Albanese told the crowd of Labor faithful he'd met Thelma while helping out at the 1987 by-election, caused by the death of husband Bill McCarthy.

Thelma stepped into Bill's shoes to contest the election, narrowly losing to National Party candidate Ray Chappell.

"Thelma, I remember coming up here for the by-election, campaigning with you, I was assistant state secretary, I think, at the time," Mr Albanese said.

"You did an amazing job.

"You're one of the best, Thelma, I've got to say, you are one of the best. It's such an honour.

"We're going to win [the next federal election] because of people like you. We stand on your shoulders."

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Armidale Deputy Mayor Deb O'Brien was the first Labor politician elected in Armidale since Bill won in the 1978 'Wranslide'.

She said Mrs McCarthy had inspired her to join the party by her example.

"Apart from her personal characteristics, which is just a completely gusty inspiring woman of the Labor Party, she is also a symbol for us, she's a reminder that we can win seats," she said.

"We're talking about the one-in-a-million here!"

Despite being officially inducted into Labor Party royalty, the 96-year-old still hands out how-to-vote cards for the party, Cr O'Brien said.

A resident of Sydney, Mr Albanese used his first day allowed out of the state's capital to travel to Glen Innes, to take aim at Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce for opposing green jobs "in his own electorate".

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