Born in Lockhart, Mrs Begg was a part of the Junee, Lennox Head and Wagga communities.

She was the first female co-pilot of a Tiger Moth, a life member of the Foxtrot Dance Studio, and the youngest mayoress of Junee at just 21.

“How do you talk about almost 93 years of someone’s lifetime, in but a few short minutes?” asked member for Wagga, Daryl Magurie, at Mrs Begg’s funeral service on Thursday.

Mr Maguire delivered a eulogy written by her son John Begg and friend Jocelyn Mason at St Paul’s church.

“Oriel was a larger than life lady with a contagious laugh and a thirst for community spirit,” Mr Maguire said.

“She always looked on the bright side of life and counted her blessings for everything, even in times of hardship.”

When Mrs Begg was six years old, the family moved from Lockhart to Junee in 1928 and her father Willy Haberecht bought the cordial factory.

That same year she started school and in 1933 was confirmed at St Luke’s Anglican Church, later becoming a Sunday School teacher.

In Junee, Mrs Begg sang and played music at the Athenium Theatre during war bonds concerts.

The Athenium was operated by Robert Begg, who was a distributor of movies in the district, and, in 1941, was elected to Junee council.

In 1942, the two were married and when Mr Begg was elected mayor in 1943, they travelled around the district tending to civic duties and business enterprises. Their first child John arrived in 1943 and Maree followed.

After a trip to Lennox Head, the family moved to the state’s north in 1950, and during their time there, Laurie, Bobbie and Vicki joined the family.

There were just 250 people, no utilities and together Mrs Begg and her husband worked to develop the community.

In 1963 their sixth child, Ian, was born and the family returned to Wagga in 1965.

In Wagga Mrs Begg was involved with many groups including the Willans Hill Museum, Kurrajong Waratah, Scouts, 2AAA FM and the Foxtrot Dance Studio, earning the nickname, “Granny Foxtrot”.