A DEDICATED volunteer and history group were yesterday recognised for their contribution to the community during a special presentation of awards for seniors at the Mount Gambier Civic Centre.
Held in conjunction with the 2017 Mount Gambier Seniors ZestFest which celebrates the contributions older people make to the community, the awards were presented to Maxine Maney and the Mount Gambier History Group.
Acknowledged for her achievements in community service, Ms Maney received the Mount Gambier Senior of the Year Award, while Aileen Clarke and Margaret Brown received the Mount Gambier Senior Recreation Award on behalf of the local history group for their work on the recent Fidler and Webb exhibition.
Spending years championing local causes, Ms Maney was recognised for her volunteering commitments with St Vincent de Paul, providing Meals on Wheels deliveries and cooking at the Sunset Community Kitchen – a cause she has supported since its inception as a food coordinator.
She has also played an important role in the Save Our Palliative Care campaign and has helped out with many events, including the Relay for Life, Generations in Jazz festival and Carols by Candlelight.
“Maxine is a very quiet achiever, committing herself to volunteering for many years,” nominator Susan Blackall said.
“Her help to others is never ending, she is a totally committed community person who will quietly put herself in the front line to volunteer, investing so much time cost free to the community.”
Researching and collecting material over the past two years for the recent Fidler and Webb exhibition, Mount Gambier History Group committee members Ms Clarke and Ms Brown were thrilled to accept the senior recreation award on behalf of the hard working group of volunteers.
“It’s a real honour and recognition of all the hard work and the thousands of hours that everyone within the group gave to make sure the exhibition was a success,” Ms Clarke said.
“I think it has been one of the biggest and best events we have put on.
“The opening night alone attracted more than 250 people and over 1000 others visited during the 13-day exhibition, including many former employees, customers and ancestors of the Fidler and Webb family.”
