A resident of Sarah Claydon Retirement Village, Mrs Bickel died on Thursday March 12, aged 85 years, and was farewelled by family and friends on Thursday.

Milton CWA president Noeleen Bartley said Mrs Bickel had been the branch secretary, had a “delightful personality” and was “a lady much admired”.

“Pauline loved our musical items and was always willing to participate, no matter how silly the costumes or performances were,” she added.

“She always sat in the front seat at the branch meetings and by doing so she made sure she did not miss a thing.”

Mrs Bickel’s sister Margaret Dupont said siblings loved the CWA and enjoyed playing bridge.

She also had an interest in politics and liked classical music, literature and the arts.

“She was also very close to her family, her deceased husband, and was very much loved,” she added.

Mrs Bickel’s husband, Lennard, who died in 2002, was a well known author of 12 books and was the only writer from Australia invited by the US Government to witness the Apollo ll first moon-landing mission in July 1969.

During his life-time he wrote about Lord Howard Florey, the Australian of penicillin fame and also penned the biography of geologist and Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, among others.

After living in Canberra, Mr and Mrs Bickel moved to Mollymook in 1987 and later resided in a unit at Sarah Claydon.