AUSTRIALIAN Save the Children volunteer Hazel Crockett, who lived in the New Forest for nearly 20 years, died peacefully on February 13, aged 102.

She raised thousands of pounds for the children’s charity in her native country and in the UK by making and selling hundreds of ragdolls.

Born Hazel Grant in Bendigo, north-west Victoria, in 1911, Mrs Crockett grew up in Daylesford, where she enjoyed horseriding, swimming, tennis and golf among other sports.

It was in Daylesford, at the age of six, that she met her future husband John ‘Jack’ Crockett at a dance class.

The pair began dating in their teenage years and eventually married in 1938 on the eve of the Second World War, in which Mr Crockett served as a navigator on Sunderland Flying Boats.

Mrs Crockett had intended to volunteer as a nurse but found herself pregnant with their child Margaret.

After the war the pair became involved in community work and charities in Australia, particularly Rotary in the town of Cobram, where Mrs Crockett first began making her dolls.

She was made a Paul Harris Fellow, one of Rotary’s highest honours, and made a life member of Save the Children, in recognition of her work with the charity.

After her husband’s death in 1995, she moved to England to be with her daughter, Margaret, who married Andrew Tinsley, now a New Forest District Councillor.

Aged 85, she settled in Laurel Close in Hordle, and immediately joined the Milford branch of Save the Children to continue her work.

At her 100th birthday two years ago Mrs Crockett received birthday greetings from Prime Minister David Cameron and then-Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard as well as the Queen, in recognition of her charity work.

She was joined by 120 family and friends on the day, including many who travelled over from the far side of the world.