She’s a CWA life member, Friends of Strathearn volunteer, Scone Ladies Probus Club member to name a few. 

And at 86, this mother of seven, grandmother of 14 and great grandmother of seven,  shows no signs of slowing down. 

“I tell my kids I don’t want flowers on my coffin when I go, just cover me with scones,” she said.

A passionate cook and ‘world class’ scone baker, Mrs Halsted has always looked for ways to help others  especially if it involves a kitchen.

“I love to cook and have helped cater for numerous functions over the years for the CWA, at ram sales and pony club to cooking for the motel and caravan park where my husband Bill and I worked for a number of years.

“I like to say ‘have apron will travel’,” she said. 

Originally from Moree, Mrs Halsted said her greatest achievement to date has been as a member of the CWA.

“I started with CWA when I was 17 in 1945.

“We wanted to help with the war effort and started the CWA ‘Garah Younger Set’ which was also a great way for young people to get together in a rural town. 

Since then Mrs Halsted has had many roles with the CWA at           various branches including secretary, treasurer, historian and publicity officer.

“The CWA has achieved so much in the community since then and it is great to have played a small part in that,” she said. 

Mrs Halsted said the people of Scone had made her feel very welcome since moving to the area from Foster in 2003 after her husband had a stroke to be near family in Aberdeen, Singleton and Merriwa. 

“Since Bill died, the people here have been so helpful and kind, it’s a wonderful place to live,” she said. 

Mrs Halsted was recently featured in ‘Hidden Treasures,’ a book published by the NSW Department of Primary Industries that recognises the contribution of rural women volunteers.