The National Trust is an organisation shaped by formidable women and Lois Rasmussen is no exception. One of the National Trust’s long-term supporters, Lois has advocated for the importance of heritage since the 1970s. It’s an association that was almost inevitable – her mother-in-law, Clara Elizabeth Rasmussen, was one of the original members of the Ku-ring-gai Tree Lovers’ Civic League, the organisation that became the National Trust in 1945; Lois’s late husband Philip was its first junior member.

Growing up in country NSW, Lois’s family instilled the belief that volunteering is a duty. Her grandmother was a bush nurse in Molong and Wellington who would ride side-saddle for long distances to visit patients. “She was very high-spirited,” Lois recalls. The can-do attitude of her grandmother and mother-in-law continues to inspire her.

‘Preserving the best of the past for the benefit of future generations is enormously important.’

Reflecting on why she’s chosen to give her time to the National Trust, she says: “Preserving the best of the past for the benefit of future generations is enormously important. You have to have a past to have a future.”

Lois shares a close bond with her teenage granddaughter, Clara, who admires the determination of her grandmother and great-grandmother. “When they think of something they really do it! Not a lot of people actually act upon what they want to do. I take inspiration from that,” says Clara. Currently studying for the HSC, Clara says her family’s history and involvement with the National Trust have given her a strong appreciation for the importance of heritage and giving back.“I would love to think that Clara could carry the torch on,” says Lois, looking fondly at her granddaughter. It’s a wish Clara shares. “I want to live up to her vision of me in the future.”