REGULAR visitor to the Far South Coast and world-class basketballer Lauren Jackson has been singled out for distinguished service as an athlete in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.
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Lauren's parents live at Tuross Head and she has been sighted a few times having a hit of golf at the Narooma Golf Club's spectacular course, while she was also spotted voting at Moruya at this year's State election.
Ms Jackson was named an Officer (AO) in the general division of the Order of Australia for "distinguished service to basketball as an athlete at the national and international level, as a mentor for women in sport, and as a supporter of a range of cultural and social welfare groups".
The outstanding athlete has captained the Australian Opals (National Women's team), since 2006, and was the youngest player ever selected at the age of 16, in 1997.
Ms Jackson has made more than 60 international appearances for Australia, including at Olympic and World Championship levels.
She has told Fairfax Media the honour has reminded her of why she loves the sport.
"It makes me realise that basketball means the world to me," Ms Jackson said.
"I get a bit emotional talking about it because it's at that stage where it's been taken away from me.
"It's one of those things, like when I got the flag at the Olympics, you never expect.
"It's a huge honour and I'm kind of blown away by it."
Injuries have put a dampener on the 34-year-old's career in recent years.
Ms Jackson underwent more knee surgery in May in a bid to get right for the final year of her contract with the Canberra Capitals in the WNBL.
Ms Jackson also hasn't given up hope of a fairytale swansong at Rio de Janeiro next year, which would be her fifth Olympic Games.
"Everything that's happened the last couple months has been a horrible way to try and get back into my last year with the Caps," Jackson said.
"Even the last six months, getting back on the court and having surgery again and being in a cast.
"This is one of those things that definitely motivates me to get it right, but it's up to the gods now."
Ms Jackson was Australian International Player of the Year, winning the Maher Medal in 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000 and in 1999.
She was inducted into the 'Best of the Best' at the Australian Institute of Sport in 2005.
She was named Most Valuable Player in the Australian Women's National Basketball League, in 2004, 2003, 2000 and 1999.
She has played for the Canberra Capitals since 2014 and in 2012-2013, 2009-2010, 2005-2006; 1999-2004.
She was included in the Women's Basketball Team for the Australian Institute of Sport, from 1997-1999.
Ms Jackson is patron and sponsor of the Commercial Club Bandits Basketball Club of Albury-Wodonga.
She leads the Lauren Jackson 15 Elites Basketball Training and Camps this year and is patron of the Aussie Hoops basketball program (promoting sport for 5-10 year olds).
Ms Jackson was the all-time Leading Scorer in Olympic Women's Basketball competition in 2012.
Her international career including captaining the Seattle Storm in the American Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), since 2001.
She was v 'Most Valuable Player' in 2010, 2007 and 2003.
She was WNBA Champion in 2010 and, 2004; a WNBA All-Star in 2009-2010, 2005-2007, 2002-2003 and was part of the All-WNBA First Team in 2003-2010.
She has played in China, Spain, Russia and in South Korea.
She was a Silver Medallist at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 and at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.
She was a Bronze Medallist at the London Olympic Games in 2012.
She was a Gold Medallist at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006.
She was gold medallists at the 2006 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Championships in Brazil, a bronze medallist in 2002 and in 1998.
She has been patron of Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia, since 2011 and has been a Gender Equality Champion for UN Women Australia, since 2014 and a member, since 2012.
She is Ambassador for the Albury-Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust.