Not a difficult list of guidelines to being a decent human.

For Port Macquarie's Yvonne Cains, a legacy of sharing knowledge and empowering people through learning is a special gift.

For this 2020 Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) recipient, being humble is also a pre-requisite.

The retired Port Macquarie school teacher, bridge club grand master and "knitting nutter" gives back, in the smallest of ways with the greatest effect. It comes naturally.

"I feel completely overwhelmed and humbled by this," Yvonne said of her honorary award.

"I am really being rewarded for something I love doing. People just really respond when someone takes an interest in them and they get a bit of praise.

"That's what I love most - seeing the look on someone's face when you take the time to tell them they've done a good job."

Yvonne, 81, has received her honour for service to the Port Macquarie community.

Her late husband Bob was born in Port Macquarie and both were school teachers at Port Macquarie High.

Yvonne was born in Gunnedah and cut her teeth in the classroom at Werris Creek before moving to Ballina and then taking up a casual posting at Port Macquarie Central School.

In 1963, she was asked to work as a casual teacher when Port Macquarie High School opened.

"The boss said come and teach maths for two weeks - that turned into 25 years," she laughed.

Yvonne switched numbers for a sewing machine after completing a TAFE course and moved to Wauchope to take up a position as a textiles and design teacher.

"It was a real passion for me," she said.

"I liked the senior girls, they would talk to me in confidence and if they had problems they would ask for advice from what to wear at the formal to other things. That was one of the great things for me - occasionally they would need somebody and they were receptive to me."

Years later students still stop Yvonne to share memories.

Yvonne retired at 50 and her husband at 56 and both enjoyed travelling and time together before Bob passed away.

Port Macquarie Bridge Club became a haven for new friendships and for Yvonne to extend her passion for teaching to a set of new enthusiasts. As the welfare officer, a listening ear is never too far away for a member needing a friend.

"I enjoy teaching bridge as much as I enjoy playing it," Yvonne said adding Port Macquarie has one of the biggest bridge contingents in the state. She is a grand master and life member of her club.

"I like being able to teach people a life-lasting activity they can enjoy."

That joy has extended beyond our shores as well and can be visibly seen on Yvonne's face when she describes the work of her group the Knitting Nutters.

She started the group with residents at Governor's Retirement Resort and their friends after a visit to Laos in 2013. Since then, the group has not only knitted children's clothes and blankets to distribute through the hospital in Luang Prabang, but made friends for life.

Laos is one of the world's poorest nations with basic sanitation and medical care.

"I love kids - and these young girls carry the babies around while their mums go out into the field to work. It's so sad but when you see the appreciation on their faces when you give them something as small as a lovely rug, they are so thrilled."

The group has supported the work of Dr Ray Hodgson in Nepal, providing him with knitted donations to distribute to the villages and now they are producing blankets for the homeless through the Wayside Chapel in Sydney and the women's refuge in Port Macquarie.

"I like to be able to give back. People really just want to feel valued," Yvonne said.

Yvonne Cain is one of four people in Port Macquarie-Hastings who are the recipients of Queen's Birthday Honours.

Receiving OAMs are Dr David Rolla Cooke for his service to aviation and medicine; and Dr John Vaughan for his service to medicine and surf life saving.

Eric Claussen has received a meritorious public service honour for his lifetime work with the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

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