Volunteers are the lifeblood of our communities, giving freely of their time and experience to simply "help out where they can".

Volunteers make an extraordinary contribution each and every day, whether they're working behind the counter at their local kids' sporting event, or taking donations at the local op shop.

Last week Tamworth Regional Council recognised some of our local volunteers:

Senior Volunteer of the Year: Bruce Cooper

Bruce has given over 70 years of service to the Tamworth and Somerton community. At the age of 90, his willingness to participate, share his knowledge and experiences with younger members of the community is appreciated and valued by all.

Adult Volunteer of the Year: Jenny Simpson

Jenny's extensive voluntary activities contribute greatly to the social capital of the Barraba area and wider community. Her work with the Barraba PA & H and organising the Barraba Show is incredibly important, to which she has been part of the committee for over 15 years.

Team Volunteer of the Year: Riding for the Disabled

The work that this team do for people with special needs is amazing. They have volunteers within their team ageing from 18 to 93 who all bring different skills to the job.

Youth Volunteers of the Year: Jessica Kemp and Will Archer

Jessica and Will are inspiring young volunteers who are committed to helping wherever they can in their schools and local communities. They have both worked exceptionally hard to raise money for different causes and always put their hand up to help.

Overall Volunteer of the Year: Bruce Cooper

Thank you. You each and every one of you do an amazing job.

Take care and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Fiona Ferguson

NDL editor