MARGARET Hamilton has been affectionately dubbed ‘The Vegemite Girl’.
No, she isn’t one of the actors from the original black and white commercial featuring the classic jingle “We’re happy little Vegemites”.
She is one of the few Australians who can lay claim to having their face and name printed on one of the iconic jars.
Mrs Hamilton was one of the top 25 Australians nominated for Vegemite’s “Toast of the Nation” awards, which recognised ordinary Australians who have accomplished extraordinary things.
While she didn’t win the overall competition, she has been given the honour of being one of 10 people to be featured on a limited edition jar in stores in the lead-up to Australia Day celebrations.
“They (Vegemite) had rung me to tell me I was going to be on it and I told them I thought it would be the top-10 from the voting,” Mrs Hamilton said.
“But they said no, I was selected by a panel of their judges. I have to say I was thrilled.”
It was her selfless act of kindness which caught the attention of the judges.
In September 2008 at the age of 69, Mrs Hamilton donated her kidney to a stranger.
Her particular form of non-directed organ donation is extremely rare, which gave her daughter Jane Edwards all the reason she needed to nominate her mother for the Vegemite ‘Toast of the Nation’.
It took 18 months of tests, including physical and psychological, before she was matched to a recipient.
After spending five days in Royal Prince Alfred Hospital after the donation she went home knowing she had given someone a quality of life they might not otherwise have had.
At the time of her donation many were unaware of the sacrifices Mrs Hamilton made, but since plenty of coverage in the media about winning the award she is now recognised around town.
Her family still find the situation and having her face on a Vegemite jar a little odd.
“I think we all laughed. I don’t think their in awe at all, they just think it’s quite funny,” Mrs Hamilton said.
The jars will no doubt be treasured by Mrs Hamilton’s four children and 14 grandchildren who will forever remember what Mrs Hamilton did to deserve it.
Mrs Hamilton’s Australian spirit of giving to others hasn’t stopped.
She is a regular blood donor at the Wagga Blood Donor Centre, doing her bit to assist others in need.
The Wagga centre was one of Mrs Hamilton’s biggest
supporters in the Vegemite “Toast of the Nation” competition alongside her husband’s South Wagga Rotary Club and Transplant Australia.
Later this year, Mrs Hamilton plans to swim and play golf in the Australian Transplant Games in Newcastle in October.
The limited edition “Australia” 400 gram jar is available in stores nationally for the same price as an original Vegemite jar.
Find out more about organ donation by visiting the DonateLife website at www.donatelife.org.au.
The website provides comprehensive information about how to register as a donor, how to discuss your choice as a donor with family and the process of tissue and organ donation.
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