THREE women from the Tamworth area have been revealed as the Hidden Treasures of the community.
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Tamworth’s Beverley Belt and Helen Leamon, along with Manilla’s Vicki Blinman, were named on the Hidden Treasures honour roll at the NSW Rural Women's Gathering in Broken Hill last month.
The roll recognises rural and regional women for their voluntary work in emergency services, arts, environment, social justice and more.
Mrs Belt was added for her work in farm safety education, first aid, community groups and visits with the elderly.
Mrs Blinman was named for her work with the NSW SES and Manilla and District Country Music Association.
Mrs Leamon has been a Girl Guides NSW & ACT volunteer since 1982 and is also a regional learning and development adviser.
Mrs Belt said it was “exciting” to receive a package in the mail this week, telling her she’d been named a Hidden Treasure.
“It’s very much a privilege,” she said.
“I’ve met so many lovely, lovely people [as a volunteer]. I’m quite honoured.”
Mrs Blinman joined the Manilla SES more than 16 years ago and is now the Manilla unit controller and the local controller for the Tamworth Regional Council area.
“I wanted to do something to improve myself and help the community,” she said.
“I was a single mum at the time; my dad was in the SES and I followed in his footsteps.
“It thought it would be good to build confidence and have something for me other than being a mum.”
Mrs Blinman said she was “in shock” when she learned her name had been added to the roll.
“I was honoured. Reading some of the stories of the other ladies who were nominated as well - it’s really nice to be part of that group.”
Minister for Primary Industries, Lands and Water, Niall Blair, said this year’s roll recognised 90 women in rural, regional and remote communities across the state.
“These women each play a key role within their local areas and devote their time to supporting families, charities, organisations and businesses in their region,” Mr Blair said.
“The gathering in Broken Hill … was a great platform for women to discuss key challenges and opportunities they face in our regions.”
Some of the New England’s other Hidden Treasures, and some of their achievements, are:
- Julie Dowleans, Wee Waa - Meals on Wheels and garden club; volunteer announcer and committee secretary for community radio station 2MaxFM 91.3.
- Cathy Duncan, Moree - founding CEO of Aboriginal Employment Strategy, an Indigenous-managed non-for-profit recruitment company; chairwoman of Pius X Aboriginal Corporation and Beyond Empathy Local Reference Group; member of Moree Reconciliation Action Plan Committee and Moree Reconciliation Group.
- Linda Fittler, Werris Creek - Werris Creek Rural Fire Service firefighter for past 19 years and treasurer for 13 years.
- Mary Gaston, Yetman – Volunteer in schools as canteen mother, pottery and handicraft teacher; long involvement and commitment in local religious education.
- Julie Gittoes, Guyra - Guyra Lamb & Potato Festival Committee member for 30 years and secretary for 25 years; has run a free homework centre two afternoons a week at Bald Blair Primary School; secretary-treasurer for Guyra Tennis Club for 20 years.
- Sharon Hibbens, Wee Waa - NSW Rural Fire Service volunteer since September 2004.
- Susan Maisey, Armidale - Rural Fire Service volunteer for six years and catering captain for two years; volunteer for Zonta International Days for Girls.
- Beryl Manion, Quirindi - starting in the early 1980s, has volunteered for Mothers’ Club, P&Cs, Quirindi Basketball Association, Quirindi Garden Club, Willow Tree CWA, Quirindi Rural Heritage Village and Museum committee and swap meet, Quirindi Show Society, Retirement Homes Committee and Lions.
- Robyn Styles, Tambar Springs - has volunteered since she was 14 years old, including for NSW SES for 15 years and NSW RFS since 2014.
- Liz Tomlinson, Narrabri - as a preschooler, helped her mother deliver hot meals to the elderly (pre-Meals on Wheels). Chairwoman of the Make it Work Foundation, which focuses on young adult training for regional population retention; gives many hours to Yarrie Lake Landcare group.
- June Walker, Ben Lomond - local CWA treasurer since 1994 and war memorial hall trustee since 1996 and treasurer for five years; Guyra Show cattle section assistant steward for many years.
- Colleen Wills, Quirindi - volunteer in retirement homes and with elderly, including the popular OBE (Over Bloody Eighty) lunch at one of the local restaurants, CWA committee member for many years including president of the Namoi group and state vice-president for three years.
Carolyn Millet
Based at The Northern Daily Leader, Tamworth, and Namoi Valley Independent, Gunnedah. Covering general news and features on community, council, arts, business, health, education, entertainment and rural matters.
Based at The Northern Daily Leader, Tamworth, and Namoi Valley Independent, Gunnedah. Covering general news and features on community, council, arts, business, health, education, entertainment and rural matters.
