That unwavering belief is the reason the former general manager of the Newcastle Herald has volunteered so much of her time to serve on the boards and committees of numerous not-for-profit foundations, associations, and local charities.

And it is why, on Australia Day, she was honoured with an Order of Australia for her service to the community of Newcastle.

"As volunteers, you do what you do to help the community and other people - it's not for personal recognition," she said.

"But I was very humbled, and very proud... My Mum and Dad, all those years back, always instilled in us how important the community is to the people who live in it. And that if you help the community, it will help you.

"This community has been good to me. I've had some great jobs, I've had great opportunities, and I've had the chance to volunteer for these committees which have shown me, first hand, what charities are out there in the community, and the wonderful work they are doing."

Ms Ainsworth remains a member of the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation Board, the Orica Foundation Charitable Board, the Mark Hughes Foundation Advisory Committee, and as a patron of Hunter Carers.

But she has also served on the Newcastle Knights Business Development Committee, the Samaritans Marketing and Fundraising Committee, and as an ambassador for the John Hunter Children's Hospital Kids Club, among others.

She strives to make a positive difference in someone's life every day.

"If I can do that, even in some small way, then I am a happy person," she said.

The community, and those living in it, would be happier if more people volunteered.

"Your own issues become very small when you see people with much bigger problems than you've got yourself, and you only get to see that at the coal face," she said.

"People here really do rally. We have seen it through earthquakes. We have seen it through Pasha Bulker storms. We have seen it through so many disasters.

"There is a lot of help needed out there in the community.

"You might only be a little cog in a big wheel, but the wheel needs that cog to turn.

"Without that help, people go under."

While Ms Ainsworth was still the general manager of the Newcastle Herald, she was volunteering for 14 different organisations - typically working before and after work, and often on weekends, to fulfill her community commitments.

She had compelled her senior staff to do the same.

"I said if you're going to be a senior manager you have to volunteer, in an unpaid role, for something in the community," she said. "It was a wonderful way for us to stay in touch with the community.

"The Newcastle Herald's role was to be involved in the community, and support the community.

"We were, and still are, the voice of the community."