VOLUNTEERS at the iKew visitor information centre and community hub say their recent Australia Day award is just the recognition they need to give them the impetus to power ahead into the future.
“I was over the moon. I couldn’t believe it – it was such a thrill and so great to see all the hard work has paid off. This is just what we needed to keep us going,” long-time volunteer Joy Walsh said.
“It is just reward for all the work current and past volunteers keeping the centre open seven days a week,” long-time volunteer Garry Walsh, Joy’s husband, said.
“People are even keener to ensure it keeps rolling. We just have to keep building our income so we are self-sufficient, which we hope will happen within 12 months.”
New volunteer Joan Brown agreed: “I have been here only five months, but it was fantastic for everyone who has worked so hard to get this recognition.”
The iKew centre – located in the tiny township of Kew, west of Port Macquarie – won the Community Group of the Year category in the Hastings Australia Day awards. The plaque and medal now are proudly on display at the centre.
The building was originally a council-run visitor information centre but closed three years ago when the highway bypassed Kew.
Unhappy with the decision, the local community rallied together and last April got permission to re-open the centre on a rent-free trial basis for two years. Since then 40 regular volunteers and 10 reserve volunteers have manned a 10am to 4pm roster seven days a week.
To help pay for the electricity and phone they sell a variety of local art and craft and goods including scarves, shawls, knitted items, wooden toys, hand-made cards, jewellery, paintings and photographs and locally made honey.
“We restrict it to locally made goods and are always looking for new supplies,” said Joy, who is in charge of stocking the centre.
“We welcome inquiries from people who would like to display their goods here.”
Joy is particularly keen to hear from a local potter because visitors have expressed interest in buying pottery.
“We had a very good December thanks to local community buying gifts and it would be great to see that continue,” she said.
Visitors who call in include Port Macquarie residents who want to know more about the hinterland attractions and people who have just moved to the area, in addition to tourists stopping off on their way to Port Macquarie or inland. Facilities include toilets, a dump point for RV waste and under-cover tables and chairs.
Joy, Garry and Joan were the three volunteers who happened to be on roster when the Independent called in last week.
