Hidden Treasures 2020 nominations open recognising rural women volunteers

The annual initiative of Department of Primary Industries' Rural Women's Network, Hidden Treasures, is calling on nominations for this year's honour roll which recognises the outstanding efforts of rural women volunteers in NSW.

Last year, two nominees from the Riverina were commended for their tireless dedication to their respective communities.

Lorraine Osmond, from Narrandera, said she had been volunteering "from the time she left school to retirement".

"It all started after school when I was involved in a church group and used to take the senior citizens on picnics and things," she said.

From there, Mrs Osmond went on to volunteer raising money for the local ambulance, and joined the Rotoract Club which saw her raise money to build a playground at St Joseph's Catholic School.

Her next volunteering venture would prove to have a far more personal meaning later in life.

"I joined the Children's Medical Research Association in town and was the secretary there for two years," Mrs Osmond said.

"Ironically, one year I went to the annual general meeting where they showed us around a hospital in Sydney where they researched Down syndrome.

"I ended up having a Down syndrome child of my own, Jamie, and it was amazing how a volunteer situation could become real life down the track."

Born and raised in Narrandera, Mrs Osmond began a new path of volunteering after the birth of Jamie.

"I very much got involved in his schooling activities then, doing some fundraisers and helping at the canteen, those types of things," she said.

"When he left school, he went to the Cyprus Centre where they do laundry and linen services under Kurrajong, so I ended up helping out there too basically every day."

The value in volunteering wasn't truly shown to Mrs Osmond until the loss of her son.

"We lost our Jamie to Leukemia in 2016, and the wonderful group at the Cyprus Centre organised a fundraiser for us when he really got sick, so for all the time we gave, they gave it back threefold and that was so heartwarming," she said.

"You do these things because you enjoy it, but volunteering really pays back and makes you feel appreciated."

Mrs Osmond's volunteering efforts spanned across many more organisations and clubs, and said the recognition through Hidden Treasures was the cherry on top.

"It's humbling, and it gives me great pleasure to meet so many different people of all ages and backgrounds," she said.

"Volunteering has filled such a gap in my life, and I think I learned that from my mother - she was always the one helping out around town and it taught me what life is all about."

Fellow nominee from 2019, Judy Bond, was recognised for her efforts in Deniliquin.

"I was involved in a lot of the school and sporting activities, meals on wheels, and now volunteer at the Peppin Heritage Centre," she said.

The small Riverina town also gave back, though, according to Mrs Bond.

"A lot of people put a lot of effort in, and especially at the visitor centre, we've always been treated like we are hidden treasures by the council so it's nice to be recognised," she said.

Mrs Bond said the honour roll was a valuable way of showing appreciation for those who put in the hard yards quietly.

"Volunteering is done out of love and enjoyment, and many people do this quietly, so it's so important to be recognised especially in rural towns," she said.

People are encouraged to nominate a friend, family member, colleague, community worker or any rural woman who is believed to make the community a better place to live.

To nominate, complete the Nomination Form telling a short story about why the nominee is worthy. All rural women nominated will be included in the 2020 Honour Roll.

Nominations close July 24, 2020.