The inspiring life of Glad Ryan

Glad Ryan inspires the women at the Tuesday handcraft class at the Ettalong Senior Citizens' centre to make knitted squares, which she forms into patterns.

Willing workers sew these up and make many useful articles as well.

These have been donated to Camp Quality over the past five or six years.

So great is the response that last year the goods were divided and shared with the Salvation Army, Home League of Gosford Corps.

Glad lived in Bankstown for 37 years before moving to Empire Bay in 1979.

During that time, she had been active with the local marching girls, also with Sydney combined teams for at least 15 years.

In 1980, she joined Ettalong Senior Citizen's centre taking part in indoor bowls, handcrafts and ballroom dancing.

She served many years on the reception desk at the centre.

Together with husband Bob, she formed a group of locals and worked for the Empire Bay Scholarship.

These were awarded to pupils of Woy Woy and Umina high schools.

When this wound up they purchased library books and a outdoor sound system for Empire Bay School.

She joined CWA in October 1986 and held positions of president, secretary and cookery officer in that organisation.

She still conducts theatre parties to the Laycock and some social outings for them.

She is a life member of the Umina Garden Society and has been their president for five years retiring this position in February this year.

Like many other volunteers, a couple of heart attacks and by-pass surgery has not held her down.

Her plan now is to take life a little easier, not be quite so involved.

Wonder how long that will last?

Letter, February 24