STEPH COOKE CELEBRATES FINDING HIDDEN TREASURES
February 2, 2018
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke didn’t have to dig very deep to find some hidden treasure in Narrandera this week.
Ms Cooke was joined by more than 20 women from across the Cootamundra electorate to present them with certificates recognising their presence on the 2017 Hidden Treasures Honour Roll.
The women gathered at Narrandera’s Art and Community Centre in Cadell Street on Monday to listen to Ms Cooke recognise them for their volunteer contributions, before she presented each of them with certificates to commemorate their presence on the Honour Roll.
“It really was a privilege for me to meet these lovely women and present them with certificates,” Ms Cooke said.
“The amount of time and energy they each devote to their voluntary work is incredible, and we as a community owe them so much for what they do that presenting these certificates almost seems like not enough.
“Without their selfless devotion – and I’m really not overstating this – there would be people dealing with bereavement,” she said.
“Lives really have been saved as part of the work done by volunteers like these Hidden Treasures.”
Narrandera’s Tammy Galvin is not only a Hidden Treasure, she is a veritable force of nature, the 42-year-old from Gillenbah appearing to squeeze 35 hours into a standard day.
The mother-of-one has a full-time agricultural job but is also on the NSW Rural Women’s Gathering Committee, is a member of the Narrandera Evening Branch CWA, is a Gillenbah Bushfire Brigade member, is on the Narrandera domestic violence committee, works with Women of Western Riverina Networking group, and is also known to sing.
So how does she do it?
“The very bottom line is time management,” she said. “Sometimes I just have to say no to things, though.”
Being a mother has enabled her to create a way to teach her five-year-old daughter some life lessons.
“Some of the meetings, my daughter comes along with me – I could put her into care, but I feel I’m teaching her that this is what we do in the community.
“Most communities have members who give something back,” she said. “I think it’s good to keep that positive energy flowing within the community in giving back to them.
“Some people aren’t as confident to be able to leave the house and give so much to their community and therefore rely on those who are in a position to be able to volunteer.
“I think that’s our duty, to be able to support those in the community who aren’t so confident.”
Tammy’s volunteering also has a lighter aspect to it.
“Recently I’ve been drawn into singing with the community orchestra and choir – I love it!” she exclaimed.
“It takes a lot of energy, but it’s great.”
When asked if her talent was overheard while getting ready to face the day, she confessed: “I do tend to practise in the shower.”
The 2017 nominees join a growing roll call of more than 900 volunteers who have been recognised since the first Honour Roll was launched in 2010.
This important tribute documents and celebrates the unpaid work of women who ensure the viability of so many crucial community groups and charities.
An estimated 43.7 per cent of adult Australians volunteered a total of 932 million hours in 2016.
For more information on the Hidden Treasures Honour Roll visit the DPI website http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/about-us/rural-support/rural-womens-network
