Myril Bunt receives her Order of Australia Medal in 2016 from the Governor of South Australia Hieu Van Le. Photos: Bunt family.
Myril Daphne Bunt, 95, died as she lived — happy, with no fuss and surrounded by the people she loved.
A mainstay of the Moruya Surf Life Saving Club — her family boasted three life members — she epitomised the word ”community”.
From helping with the George Bass Surfboat Marathon event to travelling the countryside towing surfboats, supporting the local junior rugby league and swimming clubs, selling hot dogs to raise money to build the Moruya pool, supporting local swimming and junior rugby league clubs and the Moruya sub-branch of the RSL’s Women’s Auxiliary, if help was needed, Mrs Bunt was there. And regardless of how busy she was, she always made time to make her famous coathanger covers for special friends, help out in the canteen, drive her children and their friends to sporting events — and wash everyone’s uniforms.
Her connection with surf lifesaving began in 1950, when, at age 19, she joined the Mollymook SLSC’s first ladies’ march-past team — before women were officially allowed to join surf clubs. But the young woman was not to be deterred, showing early dedication to the surf club life, also spending her time coaching nippers and helping out with the catering.
But it was the march-past that was to prove life-changing for a young Myril — her team coach was a young policeman from the South Coast named Arthur Bunt — and they married in 1954.
The couple moved to Moruya, where they were to have five children and become the stalwarts of the Moruya SLSC.
Mrs Bunt was always there to help, and according to her daughter Velma, rarely without a smile on her face.
“The outpouring of sentiment for her has been quite amazing,” Velma said this week. “People talk of her as one of the last living legends of our town and I think they’re right.
“She was not only a great mother to the five of us, but she was always there when someone needed help. People say she was always smiling, and she was.”
Myril Bunt as a young woman in 1949. She became a stalwart of the South Coast community.
Moruya SLSC president Bert Hunt described Mrs Bunt as “an absolute club rock”.
“She was the sort of person from whom you would seldom hear a harsh word. She always had a smile on her face,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter who you talked to in town, she was well respected by everyone — she was Mrs Bunt to the kids and Myril to the rest of us.
“She was one of those special people that make a community what it is.”
Mr Hunt said Mrs Bunt’s smiling face would be her legacy: “She will be missed by many, but she has built a legacy that will ensure she is never forgotten.”
In 2000, Mrs Bunt was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in recognition of her service to surf lifesaving, and in 2016, she received the Order of Australia Medal for her service to the Sapphire Coast community.
The community stalwart died on 22 January. Velma said she had been in good health until recently, managing to live independently in her home, with family support when needed.
Myril Bunt is survived by her children Velma, Roger (deceased), twins Loraine and Shirley and Greg, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Her funeral service will be held at the Broulee Crematorium on 2 February at midday, followed by a wake at the Moruya Surf Life Saving Club.
