DEDICATED community all-rounder Lillian Andrews has been recognised for her selflessness.
She was named the Port Macquarie-Hastings volunteer year of the year at a special council ceremony on Friday night.
For many years Mrs Andrews has donated an extraordinary amount of her time to a range of local community organisations, including the Port Macquarie Historical Society and Museum, Port Macquarie Meals Service, Hastings Home Hospice and Hastings United Bootscooters.
At the Port Macquarie Historical Museum, where Mrs Andrews has been volunteering for seven years, she is a front desk volunteer, tour co-ordinator, tour guide, research volunteer, public speaker for community groups and acknowledged as a great ambassador for the organisation.
Mrs Andrews was described by peers as a “beautiful and selfless person” and invaluable member of the groups she volunteers with.
She was nominated by her colleagues at the Port Macquarie Meals Service, where she has volunteered for 12 years.
There were 13 nominees for the award and mayor Peter Besseling said that it was tough to pick a winner.
All the nominees and supporters were invited to the award presentation, where Cr Besseling announced Mrs Andrews as the recipient and presented her with a certificate and a $1000 donation towards a not-for-profit organisation of her choice.
Now in its fourth year, the award is a way of saying thankyou to the many hundreds of volunteers who work tirelessly in the Port Macquarie-Hastings community across a diverse range of community organisations.
The other nominees:
Michael Reid: Michael Reid is the inaugural chairman of the Australian Ironman Local Organising Committee. He has contributed more than 5000 hours of his time over 12 years in helping to co-ordinate the event which draws over 1600 competitors and over 2000 local volunteers. He has also been a volunteer coach, president and committee member and trainer for members of the Port Macquarie Triathlon Club for over 22 years.
Julian Dennis: Julian has ’manned’ the barbecue at every Wauchope Bonny Hills SLSC ’Nippers Day’ since his daughter started with the club in 2005, as well as for other club functions. He doesn’t let his disabilities get in the way of trying to provide a much-needed support service for the club. He gets there early to set up, keeps going behind the hot plates as long as there are people wanting food and stays behind to pack up, clean up and wash up.
Patrick Galbraith-Robertson: A member of Hastings Valley Mountain Bike Riders who has donated countless hours of personal time toward the construction and maintenance of mountain bike infrastructure at Wayne Richards Park. He has also been integral in increasing youth club membership which has now risen to over 100 members.
Shane Hughes: Shane has been an active member of Port Macquarie State Emergency Service for over 30 years during his service he has been involved in numerous rescue operations including the Clybucca Bus Crash in 1989 and a rescue at Mt Seaview in 1991 where he was awarded a Commendation for Brave Conduct by the Governor-General.
Nik Sandeman-Allen: Nik has volunteered as chairperson for the Hastings Access Sub-Committee for five years. During this time, Nik has championed the removal of barriers for people with a disability and is a strong community advocate for improving the built environment so it is disability friendly. Nik also volunteers as a judge for the annual Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce Disability Friendly Awards and conducts on-site inspections of nominees’ businesses.
Malcolm Merrick: Malcolm is currently the president of Tacking Point Lions Club. Under his leadership the club has completed a wandering path at the GEM Ward at Port Macquarie Base Hospital. He has helped assist other service groups with either fund-raising or with manpower when or where required. Malcolm has also been chairman of the Hastings Men’s Shed since 2010. He organises visits by health practitioners, financial advisers, bereavement counselling, and Centrelink along with skilled tradesmen and special interest groups.
James Middleton: James has been a member of Camden haven Meals on Wheels for over 10 years. At a time when most retirees are taking things a bit easier, Jim is actively involved in managing this small community business – a big responsibility which includes the employment of five staff, developing strategic plans, and updating organisational policies and procedures to ensure best practice.
Emily Davidson: Emily showed what could be achieved in gaining the NSW Junior Life Saver Award in 2011. Emily is now part of the Port Macquarie SLSC leadership co-ordinator’s team. She attended a camp as a facilitator, displaying her skills as a speaker, leader, mentor, trainer and team member while organising and teaching nippers various life and surf life saving skills.
Diane Hayes: Diane has played an integral role in the development of the iKew Visitor Centre and Community Hub. Her dedication to the project from the beginning has been extraordinary and it has increased substantially as the centre became a reality.
Janet Hyde: Janet has been an important player in the Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce, Greater Port Macquarie Tourism Board and Port Panthers for the past five years. Janette first started volunteering around 1980 when she joined the Greater Port Macquarie Tourism Association and has been involved many organisations since. She most recently helped organise the inaugural Port Macquarie Beatles Festival.
Janet has been a key player in the local tourism industry for over 25 years, and currently donates more than 40 hours of her time every week toward activities, events and strategies that contribute to the promotion of the Greater Port Macquarie region.
Margaret Rudder: Margaret has volunteered for the support unit at Westport high School for more than four years. During this time she has undertaken work with both physically and intellectually disabled students. The work Margaret has undertaken requires specialised skills which she has gained over the years of her work.
Denis McIntyre: Denis volunteers for the NSW Rural Fire Service as a communications radio operator and participates in an after hours duty on call system to respond units to incidents and emergencies. Denis also acts as a duty officer on weekends supervising the emergency responses. He has provided countless hours over the years of service and trained many others in the correct procedures over time.
