Yeoval local Alf Cantrell and the Canowindra Branch of the Country Women's Association (CWA) were big winners at the Central West Volunteer of the Year Awards.
The ceremony was part of the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards with the awards being handed last week at the Bathurst RSL.
- Alf Cantrell from Yeoval was awarded the Senior Volunteer of the Year for his work as curator at Yeoval's Banjo Paterson Museum, and the overall award for Central West NSW Volunteer of the Year.
- Canowindra Branch of the CWA were awarded the Volunteer Team of the Year.
Mr Cantrell has contributed countless hours of service to his community spanning more than 60 years. He has enjoyed an active and ongoing involvement with The Yeoval Progress Association, Red Cross, the Historical Society, and the Yeoval Show Society.
As well as working as the curator of Yeoval's Banjo Paterson Museum, Mr Cantrell has been a volunteer organiser of Yeoval's major festivals, such as the Mulga Bill Festival and the Banjo Paterson More than a Poet Festival, as well as serving on various Council advisory committees, and Cabonne Daroo Business Awards committee.
Cabonne Mayor Kevin Beatty congratulated the nominees and winners and said "many essential services and our most loved organisations wouldn't be able to operate without volunteers"
"When people volunteer, they are making a commitment to share the most precious of resources – their time – to make life better for those who are in need," he said
In the Central West Region, 17.3% of the population reported doing some form of voluntary work at the last census, compared with 14.1% for Australia. However, the number of volunteers in the Central West Region decreased by 1,616 people between 2016 and 2021.
"While I know that people choose to volunteer selflessly and without expectation of being recognised or rewarded, these awards help to do just that, recognise the importance of all our volunteers and their hard work, and help to encourage more community members to give their time" Mayor Beatty said.
Other local nominees at the Central West Volunteer of the Year Awards were St John Ambulance NSW, Orange Kart Club, and Molong RSL Club.
Mr Cantrell and the Canowindra Branch of the CWA will be invited to the Gala State Ceremony for the announcement of the 2022 NSW Volunteer of the Year.
The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards program is an initiative of The Centre for Volunteering, the peak body for volunteering in NSW and is sponsored by Principal Government Partner, the Department of Communities and Justice, Principal Corporate Partner, ClubsNSW and Supporters, Mint Awards and Sixt.
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