The 69-year-old died peacefully on Friday morning surrounded by family and friends, after a string of medical setbacks stemming from a brain aneurysm in May.

Colin Small, her husband of 50 years and nine months, said she would be remembered as a tireless worker and selfless community woman, best known for her work at Waterways Wildlife Park, Gunnedah.

The couple’s passion for koalas began when their friend, a bulldozer driver, took down a tree with three koalas in it.

“That’s when we got our first koala,” Mr Small said.

“She would have cared for thousands and thousands since.”

The couple started building the popular Waterways Wildlife Park in 1980, dedicating their lives to preserving koalas.

“She was a bloody hard worker,” Mr Small said.

“She was just a bloody good woman. 

“She always had something on the table. 

“She never run anyone down.

“We just enjoyed each other’s company, we really did.

“She was always my girl. I only ever called her girl.

“That was her pet name.”

Mrs Small’s other great love was sewing, from creating wedding dresses to sewing all her nieces’ school uniforms.

The public funeral will be held this Thursday at the Salvation Army Hall, Gunnedah, at 11am.