NATIONAL Volunteer Week is celebrated this week all over Australia.
Thousands of volunteers come from all walks of life, every nationality, and many provide cultural and community contributions on a daily basis.
Where would our hostels, hospitals, churches, schools, community houses, local groups, Lions, Apex or Rotary Clubs, Scouts and cubs, or charities or in fact our country or world be without volunteers?
They need to be treated with respect and gratitude.
Volunteers are valuable assets to many organisations and should be appreciated, as they save the workplace millions in time, effort and funds.
Latest Stories
One Nagambie couple, Doug and Diane Proud, have provided dedicated volunteer service to many local groups for many decades while working full time, raising a family, running a household and looking after an older parent.
Even as a young lad, Nagambie's Doug Proud was a high achiever and was recognised for his achievements.
In Sunshine in his early years, he attended school and had been a scout since he was 12 in the first Sunshine scout group.
He excelled in his scouting challenges and by the age of 20 was a scout master.
The Queen's Scout award, the Duke of Edinburgh award and the Baden Powell award were the three highest awards a scout could receive in the 1970s.
Doug received all three.
The Queen's Scout award was presented to Doug by the Governor of Victoria Sir Rohan Delacombe at Government House in May 1972.
The Duke of Edinburgh Citizenship award was presented to Doug by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip at Government House in October 1973.
Doug Proud started his volunteering as a scout leader and was in the Nagambie Apex Club until it folded due to age restrictions.
He has been involved in football and cricket club activities, and he was on the board of Nagambie Healthcare for 22 years.
In her early years in Nagambie, Diane Proud held the secretary position on Nagambie Primary School Parents Club and Nagambie Traders Association.
She also volunteered on the Nagambie Historical Society committee and the foundation years of the Nagambie Lakes Community House.
In 2003 she was awarded the Nagambie Football Club award of "best club person" for her outstanding volunteer contributions for helping out whether it be doing the score board, helping out in the canteen or assisting with social events.
Di Proud established, coordinated and led the A4–sized Nagambie Community Voice fortnightly bulletin for over ten years and headed a team of volunteers who sorted and delivered it.
It later developed into the newspaper format that is used today.
She has been an enthusiastic Lakeside Larks choir member for over ten years, and a leader in the Breast Cancer Support Group and its "Songs of Hope" fundraiser concerts.
Diane's contributions to the Nagambie Community were acknowledged in 2012 with the presentation of the Strathbogie Shire "Citizen of the Year" award on Australia Day.
The couple are now retired but are still very active with the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) Good Friday Appeal committee, and recently helped the RCH committee conduct an excellent fundraiser dinner and appeal on behalf of the Nagambie community.
They have also been loyal members of the Nagambie RSL.
Doug now winds the cenotaph clock each week and Diane is now on the social committee of the RSL and has returned as a volunteer at the Nagambie Historical Society museum.
Why do folk like Doug and Diane become volunteers?
I think it is because they know that volunteerism is a real asset to the club, group or facility they are with or the community and volunteers make a real difference every day.
It is a two way street; they also feel much rewarded personally by helping others.
Diane and Doug Proud would like to acknowledge the wonderful number of volunteers in their community and how their volunteer efforts of time, energy and generosity all add to Nagambie being such a vibrant community in which they have the pleasure to live in.
Nagambie has over 100 groups manned by volunteers such as Doug and Diane, so I say thank you to all volunteers who make the world a better place.
