"I thought it was for Cathie from the post office, to say farewell," said Dot.

Vicki mentioned to Dot that she was partly right. The morning tea at the historic community hall was to farewell the recently retired post office owner Cathie Robison. But that wasn't the only reason.

"Haven't you read the notice?!," asked Vicki, pointing out there were posters up around the Lake Macquarie village. No, she hadn't.

"I'm not a Nosey Parker," the 95-year-old later explained to the Newcastle Herald as to why she hadn't read the notice.

So Vicky told Dot the celebration was also for her, to say "thank you".

"Why me?!," Dot recalled exclaiming in the pharmacy. "What's going on here?!"

What's going on here is a celebration of a community for three of its beloved members: Dot, Cathie, and Bill Johnson, a local maritime legend who has recently retired after more than 70 years working on, and under, the water.

"It just blows me away," said Bill. "You don't expect people to do that sort of thing."

While his work as a skipper and salvage operator has taken Bill Johnson all over the globe, the seven seas have always flowed back to Dora Creek for him. After all, it's where he was born in 1932.

"It's always been a community," said Bill. "It's a marvellous place."

During the Depression years, he recalled, the fishermen ensured locals were fed, and timber cutters supplied wood for free, "so everyone was helping out each other".

"It [Dora Creek] started off that way, and it's continued," he said.

Doris Brittliff moved to Dora Creek 32 years ago.

"I'm only a new chum here," she explained.

But she has been helping others for longer than that, including as a member of the Country Women's Association.

She joined the CWA in 1948. When she moved from the mid north coast to the lake, Dot joined the CWA's local branch at Dora Creek then transferred to Morisset, where she is the vice president.

"I'm not wealthy, but I like to share what I know," she said.

And Dot knows a lot about cooking and handicrafts. She has been a tutor and show judge of those skills for donkey's years. What's more, she practises what she teaches. And what Dot produces, she likes to give away, "to help the poor, the needy, the disadvantaged and the homeless".

She loves the work the CWA does.

"We're not just a bevy of old women who pour tea and make scones - but I can make scones," Dot said. "We're a talented lot who can help people."

What's more, Dot is a regular visitor to the community hall. Each Friday, volunteer members of the School of Arts group that care for the hall hold a fundraising op shop, so Dot bakes a batch of scones for their morning tea.

"She's bloody brilliant," says School of Arts member Chris Gavenlock.

"And she always says the same thing - 'I don't know what these scones are like. I just threw them together. But here they are!'."

She may live on the Central Coast, but even so, working in the local post office, "you become part of the family of Dora Creek".

"You hear all about life and family in Dora Creek," Cathie said. "Lovely people, lovely village. They look after one another."

Like Cathie, Bill Johnson has just retired.

The 88-year-old made his final voyage on the seas as a professional skipper on October 9, as he used his tug, the Betts Bay, to tow a new fishing vessel from Newcastle to Nelson Bay.

In recent weeks, Bill has been selling the tools of his trade, including the Betts Bay and another of his beloved vessels, the Sea Rambler, which has sat like a loyal dog at the end of his backyard in the creek for decades.

"It's time," said Bill of him reluctantly letting the Sea Rambler go.

Just as change is inevitably seeping into the lives of those in Dora Creek, the village itself is being transformed.

Cathie Robison said quite a few Sydneysiders had moved in. Bill Johnson jokingly - kind of - said he hoped Dora Creek could remain a secret: "It's a happy little place, so don't tell too many!"

But one thing that hasn't changed in Dora Creek is that sense of community. Which is why the village wants to acknowledge three of their own.

Vicki Raciti, from the pharmacy, has organised the morning tea for Saturday, with the event spread over three hours so people can drop in and stay COVID-safe by keeping their distance while staying close in other ways.

"At a time of COVID, it's lovely to get people together," Vicki said.

While invitations have been spread by "word of mouth", Vicki was apparently concerned how many mouths would have to be fed.

Dot offered to bring something, but Vicki explained to "just bring yourself".

Still, no one would be surprised if Dot still turned up with a plate of scones.

"It's a close community," said Dot. "Everyone seems to know who I am, but I don't know why. I'm the old lady on the corner!"

Yes, Dot, but you're also a cornerstone of a community. Just as Bill and Cathie have been. And for that, Dora Creek salutes you three.

For faster access to the latest Newcastle news download our NEWCASTLE HERALD APP and sign up for breaking news, sport and what's on sent directly to your email