WEIGHING-up the value of this volunteer group is a tricky prospect.
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You could count the hours clocked, the cakes baked, sandwiches sliced or bucks banked, but the work of the Tamworth hospital auxiliary is priceless for the patients, their families and the participants.
Like pretty much every volunteer group the auxiliary faces a battle to attract new and committed members, but president Sally Cronberger said the experiences gained from giving time were richly rewarding.
"A lot of people don't want the obligation," she said.
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"People will fill in a form with their credit card details to give $20 a month to an organisation and say 'I've done my bit'.
"But doing this is much more rewarding than that will ever be."
This year marks 80 years of the hospital auxiliary, which will be marked with a low-key celebration at the Oak Tree retirement home next month.
While you might have spotted the Tamworth auxiliary members near the entrance of the hospital selling lollies and raising money through other little sales, their true value might be a little less tangible.
"The fact we're right outside Nioka, people often wander down, they're lost and upset and then find themselves chatting to the ladies," she said. "It's almost like ad hoc counselling.
"People can be told it's terminal for their loved one, they're in shock and we ask just ask them if they'd like to sit down and have a cup of tea."
She said the organisation was beneficial for it members as well, some of whom had clocked up more than 45 years with the Tamworth branch.
"It's really good for their mental health and helps so they don't feel isolated," she said.
"If someone can't come because they lost their licence, we try and the get the younger members to pick them up."
There are 190 hospital auxiliary branches throughout metropolitan and regional NSW. Ms Cronberger volunteers across the state put in hours equivalent to 25 full-time employees last year.