Volunteers from 87 organisations who had contributed a total of 370,635 hours over the past year were recognised at this week's Gift of Time Ceremony in Tamworth.
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Tamworth Regional Council holds the ceremony each year in conjunction with International Volunteer Day on December 5 to formally thank volunteers with community organisations across for their efforts.
Tamworth mayor Col Murray and former city councillor and community leader Esther Halliday have both paid tribute to the work of the volunteers and their place in our community life.
"Volunteers make an outstanding contribution to our community", Cr Murray said.
"This year is the 24th year this event has been run - each year more people seem to give even more of their time".
"When we started in 1990, the total number of volunteer hours recognised was 182,441 and today we are presenting certificates for a total of 370,635 hours given by volunteers".
"It's hard to imagine how our community would be without those wonderful people who volunteer".
Mrs Halliday told the audience it was "wonderful to acknowledge" the contribution local people make to the community.
"We are so fortunate to have this back-up system", Mrs Halliday said.
Certificates were given to representatives of a variety of groups from service clubs to community organisations to recognise time given by their volunteers during the past year ranging from hundreds of hours to more than 10,000 hours.
Councillor Warren Woodley and Mrs Halliday presented the certificates to volunteer representatives.
Among them were: Royal Freeman Benevolent Society (2010 hours), Tamworth City Uniting Church (4580 hours), News on Wheels (800 hours), Tamworth Visitor Information Centre (6926 hours), Lions Club of Tamworth (9655 hours), Tamworth Power Station Museum (4512 hours), St John Ambulance (8500 hours), Tamworth Evening VIEW Club (3000 hours), Tamworth Rotary First Light (2020 hours), Australian Red Cross Blood Service (1924 hours), Kootingal Moonbi Rural Fire Service (3170 hours), Bendemeer Craft Shop (2450 hours), Tamworth High Parents and Citizens Association (2000 hours), St Edwards's Primary School Parents and Friends (1200 hours), Uniting Church Opportunity Shop (3700 hours), St Patrick's Parish West Tamworth (6746 hours), Tamworth Red Cross (2500 hours) and Blue Angel Foundation Incorporated (5000 hours).
