Hidden Treasures Honour Roll 2020
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HIDDEN TREASURES HONOUR ROLL 2020 Celebrating women volunteers who give so much to their rural communities. ISSN 1838-4099 (Print) © State of New South Wales through Department of Regional New South Wales 2020. You may copy, distribute and otherwise freely deal with this publication for any purpose, provided that you attribute Department of Regional New South Wales as the owner. Recognising that some of the information in this document is provided by third parties, the State of New South Wales, the author and the publisher take no responsibility for the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of any information included in the document provided by third parties. Hidden Treasures is an initiative of Department of Primary Industries, Rural Women’s Network. Rural Women’s Network Department of Primary Industries 161 Kite Street Orange New South Wales 2800 Telephone 02 6391 3620 [email protected] www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/rwn Ministers' message We are proud to present these nominees and Despite the tough times we find ourselves in, it honour the contributions they have made through is important for us to take the time to thank and volunteering. recognise the volunteers who have stepped in to support their communities. The impact that volunteers have on our way of life is extraordinary. The celebration of these We encourage you to join these celebrations nominees is an important part of ensuring their by reading these stories, and perhaps taking work is respected as a deeply valuable element inspiration to start, or continue, your own in our community network. volunteering journey. This year has tested our Australian spirit as we have dealt with devastating droughts, fires and floods, and a global pandemic that will change the way we live. While we go through this time of change, our country will continue to be held Hon. Adam Marshall MP together by our resilient volunteers who dedicate Minister for Agriculture their time to the community. and Western NSW The theme for National Volunteer Week 2020 was ‘Changing Communities. Changing Lives’, which highlights the role of volunteers in our community and acknowledges their generous contributions. In an ordinary year, nearly a third of Australians Hon. Gareth Ward MP volunteer their time, contributing 128 hours of Minister for Families and their time to the community. Communities, and Disability Services This year however, we have called on our volunteers to go above and beyond in recovery roles across the state. Our small gesture of appreciation through their inclusion in this honour roll is a tribute to these rural and regional women, Hon. Bronnie Taylor MLC as we continue to focus on building resilience and Minister for Mental Health, a rewarding future for the next generation. Regional Youth and Women NSW HIDDEN TREASURES HONOUR ROLL 2020 | 1 2 | NSW HIDDEN TREASURES HONOUR ROLL 2020 2020 hidden treasures nominees 7 Margaret Allen 11 Helen Brown 15 Kellie Crossley [MOLLYMOOK] [YAMBA] [DENILIQUIN] 7 Brenda Armfield 11 Donna Burton 16 Dorothy Crouch [CASINO] [COONABARABRAN] [DUNS CREEK] 7 Bianca Armytage 12 Claire Butler 16 Patricia Crowe [DENILIQUIN] [BALRANALD] [GRAFTON] 8 Karen Backus 12 Janice Cattle 16 Lyn Dark [NORTH STAR] [WEST WYALONG] [TELARAH] 8 Judy Bailey 13 Kaye Chapman 17 Beverley Davis [COFFS HARBOUR] [COWRA] [BODALLA] 8 Virginia Beard 13 Margaret Clare 17 Elaine D'Elboux [COBAR] [MOONEE BEACH] [KOORAWATHA] 9 Christine Betts 13 Elaine Clarke 18 Elka Devney [MURRURUNDI] [COLEAMBALLY] [MOREE] 9 Helen Blackmore-Lee 14 Carol Cleary 18 Sloane Donnelly [JINDABYNE] [ULONG] [BARYULGIL] 9 Karen Blandon 14 Belinda Colless 19 Jennifer Duddle [CESSNOCK] [BREWARRINA] [YOUNG] 10 Colleen Boucher 14 Justine Cooper 19 Carol Fiddes [COBAR] [MURRURUNDI] [BOWLING ALLEY POINT] 10 Margaret Bridgman 15 Bec Crawford 20 Cassie Fisher [SCONE] [BOAMBEE EAST] [WALGETT] NSW HIDDEN TREASURES HONOUR ROLL 2020 | 3 2020 hidden treasures nominees 20 Cynthia Foley 25 Nadine Hickey 31 Jenny Loasby [DUBBO] [CESSNOCK] [BLANDFORD] 21 Georgia Foster-Eyles 26 Sue Houstein 31 Michelle Loft [NYMBOIDA] [GUNDAGAI] [MERRIWA] 21 Ruth Fritsch 26 Wendy Hudson 31 Peta Luck [TEMORA] [KEW] [GUNNING] 21 Karon Fuller 27 Stacy Jacobs 32 Stephanie Luck [WARREN] [RUTHERFORD] [CORAMBA] 22 Jayde Gardiner 27 Barbara Jefferies 32 Margaret Matthews [NORTH STAR] [YENDA] [BLAYNEY] 23 Jane Goldie 27 Carole Johnston 33 Catriona McAuliffe [KEARSLEY] [ABERDEEN] [YASS] 23 Kirrily Gould 28 Kama Kamphuis 33 Dulcie McKenzie [COOMA] [NORTH STAR] [LOCKHART] 23 Kerrie Gray 28 Janine Katon 34 Narelle McLeod [ALSTONVILLE] [ABERDEEN] [SANCTUARY POINT] 24 Lynn Griffith 29 Jean Kutchen 34 Sue McMillan [COPMANHURST] [WEST WIANGAREE] [DENILIQUIN] 24 Margaret Haddin 29 Pauline Levingston 35 Mellisa Meli [PARKES] [WALCHA] [TUMBARUMBA] 25 Lyn Hetherington 30 Aninke Lippert 35 Carolina Merriman [GLEN INNES] [YAMBA] [GOOD HOPE] 25 Megen Hibbins 30 Robyn Livermore 36 Trish Moore [NEWTON BOYD] [CLIFTON GROVE] [LOOMBERAH] 4 | NSW HIDDEN TREASURES HONOUR ROLL 2020 2020 hidden treasures nominees 36 Robyn Mowbray 42 Christine Riley 47 Fleur Tonge [ATTUNGA] [CASSILIS] [CASINO] 36 Claire Mudford 42 Marelle Robinson 47 Janelle Tongue [GILGANDRA] [WINGHAM] [LOOMBERAH] 37 Danielle Murphy 43 Narelle Ryan 48 Sally Torr [COBARGO] [RUTHERFORD] [BOURKE] 38 Saba Nabi 43 Ruth Sandow 48 Judi Unger [WAGGA WAGGA] [PACKSADDLE] [PEAK HILL] 38 Rachel Nicoll 44 Fay Shaw 49 Christine Walters [HAMPTON] [TARANA] [COBARGO] 39 Shirley Pankhurst 44 Edith Shipway 49 Jessica Wells [WEE WAA] [MERRIWA] [NORTH STAR] 39 Lorna Parnell 45 Ailsa Sinclair 50 Margaret Whyte [MERRIWA] [TEMORA] [WENTWORTH] 40 Cheryl Pearce 45 Gwen Smith 50 Pamela Wilkinson [KIAMA] [NORTH STAR] [NORTH STAR] 40 Julie Pearce 46 Tash Taaffe 51 Julia Wilton [COFFS HARBOUR] [MERRIWA] [MERRIWA] 40 Kay Pellizzer 46 Shirley Teague 51 Margaret Wood [YENDA] [COFFS HARBOUR] [EAST MAITLAND] 41 Cheryl Penrith 46 Pat Thomas OAM 52 Jill Woodlock [WAGGA WAGGA] [TEMORA] [COFFS HARBOUR] 41 Carol Ray 47 Sue Thomas 53 Volunteer agencies [SCONE] [WINGHAM] NSW HIDDEN TREASURES HONOUR ROLL 2020 | 5 6 | NSW HIDDEN TREASURES HONOUR ROLL 2020 The following stories celebrate and acknowledge rural women volunteers across New South [DENILIQUIN] Wales—women who are changing communities bianca armytage and changing lives—submitted by appreciative Bianca was born in Deniliquin and grew up on a members of their communities. farm. She completed her primary and secondary schooling in Deniliquin before spreading her wings at university studying radiography. After [MOLLYMOOK] working in regional Victoria as a radiographer she margaret allen returned to Deniliquin for work and to be closer Margaret has volunteered at the Ulladulla & to family, friends and her partner Rod, who is now Districts Community Resources Centre since her husband. They have since had two amazing 2001. She has been on our committee and has children. Bianca lost her mother to breast cancer been offering her time and skills on reception when she was in her teens, and the family were most Mondays. Margaret has volunteered with surrounded by incredible support from family other services in this area and has always been and friends. In 2013, Bianca was diagnosed with reliable when we run fundraising activities. She breast cancer, and again was blessed to have is willing to lend a hand and assist when needed. widespread support, while still caring for two Margaret is the centre’s hidden treasurer with young children. Her experience highlighted the hidden talents, always creating items such as rugs emotional and financial pressure that exists with and crocheted baby clothes when needed. she a cancer diagnosis. Bianca and another friend kick has a friendly nature and loves to chat, welcomes started the Deniliquin Can Assist branch in 2017 people in, and always finds time to help others. which provides financial assistance to community members with cancer. (Can Assist is a volunteer run organisation with branches across rural and regional NSW.) Bianca is the patient liaison officer [CASINO] brenda armfield and has provided support to every patient that comes to Can Assist. Every week she follows up Brenda is a well-known identity in the Casino with existing patients, contacts new patients area. She is the voice of Casino Beef Week and (often in her work lunch break) and liaises volunteers at 2COW FM radio station with her with relevant health professionals and support great shows where anything goes and the popular services. Bianca’s empathy and listening skills are ‘down memory lane’ segment. She is an absolute exceptional and she does her utmost to ensure treasure to her family, husband Warren, and her Can Assist can help in any way to help make a many friends. We all love and cherish this woman person’s cancer journey that little bit easier. This and I am very proud to nominate her as our is evident in the patient testaments the branch hidden treasure. receives. The Deniliquin community is incredibly fortunate to have Bianca at the helm. NSW HIDDEN TREASURES HONOUR ROLL 2020 | 7 karen backus [NORTH STAR] judy bailey [COFFS HARBOUR] Is it the soft smile that reaches her eyes when Judy Bailey is a passionate volunteer at C.ex Coffs she’s engaged in purposefully helping others? International Stadium. Without fail at every event Or the short memorable warm giggle when hosted at our venue Judy has volunteered for a she’s amused by something? Either way, Karen rostered shift. She enjoys being involved in the Backus brings her own intelligent and unique volunteering aspect at our events and is always gifts to any community setting. One of three providing us with suggestions on how to improve children, to community focused parents, Karen’s our events and support our volunteers. Judy is an values of generosity were fostered early on in adored member of our volunteering team and has her life. Examples of Karen’s generosity to her a beautiful personality. She has been a volunteer communities of Yallaroi and North Star include with our team since 2005 and she is greatly giving many hours of grant writing for fundraising appreciated.