Ann Robbie's unwavering ability to "get stuff done" was formally celebrated this morning (18 Dec) to the skirl of bagpipes before before she was presented with two community awards including Southland Mayoral Forum's new "Our Southlander" award.

The awards recognise Robbie's outstanding voluntary service to both her local community and the province, as a tireless advocate and protector of Southland’s historical wartime memorials.

Watched on by husband Peter, an emotional Ann Robbie accepts the "Our Southlander" community award from SDC mayor Gary Tong. Photo: Southland App

Robbie has spent many hours, weeks and years discovering, recovering, fundraising, restoring and documenting around 400 of Southland's community war memorials and honours boards.

Her most recent recovery was a memorial flag pole found on Bluff Hill.

"They told us we'd never find it," Robbie says.

Dedicated to Ian and George McKenzie, both men had been killed at the Battle of the Somme in 1917.

The "Our Southlander" community award was presented by Southland District mayor Gary Tong, while Wallace Takitimu community board chairman Andre Bekhuis presented the local community service award.

To a packed Ryal Bush Community Centre, including members of the community, RSA and Invercargill pipe band, Gore District Council mayor Tracey Hicks said "the future is nothing unless we can understand what has happened in the past."

"Ann gets stuff done". "Her work will not be forgotten."

Southland District councillor Paul Duffy said a lot had been achieved since the [WW1] centennial and a pivotal part of that had been Ann. He said without [her] it just wouldn't have happened.

Ann Robbie at the presentation of her two community service awards. Photo: Southland App

Otautau RSA's Brian Drummond said no-one else has ever done anything like this. "You're a doer, you get things done".

Robbie said while it was a love and passion of hers, what she [and Peter] had done wasn't an individual thing, it was a team effort. It involved people and the community.

However she did concede she didn't like red tape, and could annoy the hell out of people, but that you also had to have a sense of humour.