Announcing Hilltops’ Hidden Treasure Nominees

It’s well recognized that 2020 has been one of the most challenging years in living memory, with crippling drought, widespread bushfires, and COVID-19. It therefore makes sense to sit back, take stock, and honour volunteers who have pressed on and continued their work particularly during this time. One of the key ways this recognition can be achieved is through the “Hidden Treasures” initiative.

Each year since 1992, the NSW Department of Primary Industries’ Rural Women’s Network has been recognizing the outstanding work of women volunteers in NSW. The Hidden Treasures initiative identifies women whose contributions underpin the viability of many important community groups and initiatives.

This year, Hilltops is very proud to have two Hidden Treasures nominees, Elaine D’Elboux from Koorawatha and Jennifer Duddle from Young.

Elaine was nominated for her work with the Koorawatha Show Society, Koorawatha Progress Association, Cowra Meals on Wheels, Young District Antique Engine and Tractor Club, Elmore Driving Club (past), and Koorawatha Senior Citizens Christmas Luncheon (past). Elaine has spent a minimum of 15 years involvement with each of these organisations.

Elaine’s greatest personal achievement has been her contribution to the Koorawatha Show Society, where she has successfully managed the Show Day Canteen for over 45 years. She organizes all aspects of the canteen and can be found at 5:30am on Show Day commencing work with her fellow volunteers, only stopping when the Show closes later in the afternoon.

She was awarded Life Membership to the Koorawatha Show by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Michael McCormack MP. Elaine‘s motivation for volunteering comes from her desire to help out where she can, and her hand has a habit of rising when the question is asked “Who can help out?” It also comes from the example of her mother who volunteered at the local tennis club and the Country Women’s Association.

Jennifer Duddle from Young was nominated for her work presenting music and dance classes to pre-school aged children at the Young and District Community Hub for more than six years. Jennifer’s classes ensure that children are introduced to a range of music, musical instruments, cultural songs, language (including AUSLAN), and choreography.

Jennifer is known to many as “Gaga”, a name that came about when one of her grandchildren struggled to pronounce “Grandma”. Jennifer has a strong background in early childhood teaching and is passionate about respecting children’s individual strengths and needs. Jennifer often hunts for tools to support her classes at garage sales, and some of her notable hauls include trumpets and drums.

Jennifer comes from a family that enjoyed singing, and this has shaped her musical interest throughout her life. Jennifer began her volunteer journey at the age of 10, when she organized her school’s Christmas Club, which involved children putting sixpence into a kitty each week so that at the end of the year the boys could have a range of sweets, the girls, soap and talcum powder, and packs of the above were assembled for local senior citizens.

Jennifer is also an author, having written a handbook for those undergoing cancer treatments (“Chemo Companion”), a book of poetry called “Snowflake on My Sleeve” and “The Zen of Jen”, a self-help book for women. COVID-19 effectively stopped the face-to-face music and dance classes for children, but undaunted, Jennifer recorded classes via YouTube to keep the connection going and to continue to inspire children and their families during the height of the pandemic.

Both Elaine and Jennifer are incredibly humbled by their nomination for Hidden Treasures, and will be receiving certificates from Local Member, Steph Cooke, in the coming weeks. Both women hope that young people in particular realise the skills they have, consider the skills they want to develop, and approach organisations about volunteering. Volunteering helps builds self-esteem and connection on behalf of the volunteer as well as being the “oil” that makes rural communities prosper and flourish.

For more information about Hidden Treasures and the Rural Women’s Network, please visit the website: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/rwn.

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