Collarenebri-born Shanna Whan is celebrating ten years of her rural charity Sober in the Country and now her Order of Australia Medal (OAM) award. 

"Being awarded an OAM is an incredibly humbling recognition, as we head into celebrating a decade of Sober in the Country. But the most important thing to me, as always, is that it will help our beautiful little team to continue our work, advocacy, and awareness," Ms Whan said. 

Mrs Whan founded the company in 2015 after nearly losing her battle with alcohol addiction. 

The turning point for her was when her husband found her bloodied and bruised at the bottom of the stairs after a drunken fall. 

After waking up in the hospital, Mrs Whan knew something had to change.

Her struggle back to health eventually led to the creation of Sober in the Country to give others the support she felt was missing. 

 Shanna Whan. Photo: supplied.

"I was almost another silent statistic in a booze-soaked environment where deadly or dangerous drinking was normalised and endorsed," Mrs Whan said.

She initially started sharing her story on social media but quickly realised other people were reluctant to share their own experiences due to the social stigma surrounding alcohol addiction.

Ms Whan created a private offshoot page where people can share their stories without judgment. 

"I established Sober in the Country with simple and user-friendly conversations and shared lived experiences delivered from a grassroots perspective," Ms Whan said. 

"The stories of hope are indescribable." 

Mrs Whan was also named NSW local Hero at the Australian of the Year Wards 2022 and Marie Claire Woman of the Year 2022.

She hopes to continue to reach as many people as possible and support their journey to recovery. 

"We believe everyone in rural communities deserves to be truly and genuinely catered for, included and supported if their choice is to drink less or not at all."