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ELLEN White was one of the founders of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, and played a significant role in establishing Cooranbong.
In the 1880s, Cooranbong was in decline, as the installation of the rail bridge at Dora Creek prevented trading ships from making their way up the creek.
Ellen White's vision for a training school at Cooranbong halted this decline.
She arrived in Cooranbong in 1895, about a year after the Seventh Day Adventists bought a 600-hectare property, which they christened Avondale.
She built her own home and named it Sunnyside, which still stands today.
Ms White contributed in several ways to the township of Cooranbong, from organising the planting of orchards and establishing a health retreat, to using royalties from her published works to provide better facilities at Avondale School.
Today, many people think of Ms White as aloof, impractical and over-religious. However, local historian Beryl Mullard wrote in her book Iron Horse and Iron Bark that nothing could be further from the truth.
"Those who lived with her knew her to be practical, friendly and interested in the health and well-being of the many poor and destitute in the district around Cooranbong," Ms Mullard wrote.
"She often bought rolls of material so her staff could make up plain but warm clothes to give to the many poor families in the district suffering from the deep depression and drought of the 1890s."
Ms White left Cooranbong to return to America in 1900.
"[Ellen White] gave a practical demonstration of how hard work and a belief in one's own future can make a difference to our lives," Ms Mullard said.
"Her example left this district a better place."