Locals gathered at the Civic Centre today to recognise and celebrate the remarkable efforts of the individuals who give their time, energy, and heart to support the Broken Hill community.
The annual Volunteer Awards were well attended and highlighted the amazing array of volunteer activities and services here in Broken Hill.
Broken Hill City Council congratulates all the nominees and winners of the 2025 Volunteer Awards and extends heartfelt thanks to all the incredible volunteers who contribute so much to our community.
Full list of award winners
Community: Individual
Margot White
Margot is a passionate advocate for local history and has been instrumental both in promoting its value and in using her skills to ensure the accuracy of the historical record.
Margot has spent many years as an advocate for better services for those suffering mental illness and their carers and has lent her accounting skills to countless community organisations, large and small, all which have contributed to maintaining our rich social fabric.
Community: Organisation
Quota
Quota Broken Hill is a service organisation that continues to provide basic needs to women, children, the deaf and hard of hearing in communities in Australia and around the world.
In 2020 the international head office disbanded it's international status and Quota Broken Hill was reformed as a local Club directing all of its fundraising back into the local community.
Over the years the Club has made an immense contribution to many organisations and individuals in the Far West for over 50 years. All monies raised from fundraising activities is distributed back to our less fortunate community members or our aspiring young people and professionals.
Among its many fundraising activities, Quota Broken Hill maintains the Miners Memorial ensuring it is well presented for visitors and the annual Miners Memorial Service.
Family History Group
The Broken Hill Family History Group Inc was formed in 1977. Many hours are spent each week sorting, compiling and recording local and family history for the future of Broken Hill. This type of work is constant and requires dedicated members to achieve good results.
The Family History Group have achieved a lot since formation and have a great collection of books, indexes and many other records relating to Broken Hill and district.
Cultural: Individual
Leah Maj
Leah is a self starter with high standards and attention to detail. She has been a member of the Broken Hill Repertory Society for 13 years filling the roles of Treasurer and Canteen Coordinator for many of those years.
Leah has ensured the canteen has run smoothly taking charge of stocktaking, purchasing, sales counter, training, banking and general cleaning. As treasurer, Leah purchased a comprehensive program to help make her treasury work and reporting easier. She has meticulously maintained the Repertory's books, grant funds, door takings, canteen income and prepared reports for the Board to ensure well informed financial decisions are made.
Leah faithfully attends all meetings and theatre events.
Cultural: Organisation
Broken Hill City Art Gallery Volunteers
This award recognises a dedicated team of volunteers who serve as the heart and soul of the Broken Hill City Art Gallery.
Contributing over 1,500 volunteer hours annually, these volunteers play a central role in the success and long-term impact of the Gallery. As the front face of the Gallery, they provide a welcome experience to over 15,000 visitors per year. They actively promote exhibitions, events and programs, raise awareness and increase participation.
Through their friendly interactions, cultural literacy and genuine enthusiasm, the volunteers help create an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome to explore and connect with art.
Environment: Organisation
Landcare Broken Hill
The role of Landcare Broken Hill Inc as an urban landcare group is to care for our environment in and around Broken Hill which includes preparing our 57 hectare property known as Imperial Lakes to become a showcase nature park with an environmental hub.
There are 15 individuals who work at the park site on a regular roster and they are making a real difference. Despite lack of major funding, a dedicated group attend to weeding, growing, watering, painting, repair and renovation to prepare the park and other community sites for the public.
Landcare also have a community garden, propagation area and tunnel house at the Centre for Community where plants are grown from seed to plant back in the community. With a vision to build a world class nature park Landcare Broken Hill, through its dedicated volunteers have a vision to take Albert and Margaret Morris's plan to green the hill into the future.
Event
Opening of the 1915 Picnic Train Attack Museum
The Sulphide St Railway Museum for its opening of the 1915 Picnic Train Attack Museum. The opening of the museum simply named 1915 was held on 26 September 2024 and was the result of intense interest in the 1915 attack on a Silverton Tramway Company Picnic Train with visitors and locals increasingly searching for information of this event.
The new 1915 museum was funded solely by the Trust through the generosity of our volunteers manning the museum 7 days a week from 10am – 3pm. Volunteers were responsible for the setting up of the interior of the building which included researching and compiling all stories on the walls, restoration of the original Barrier Miner office doors and the building for the exhibit supports.
The opening was conducted with refreshments supplied and served to guests on the Silver City Comet. The opening saw approx. 100 people attend.
Health
Dept Communities and Justice Volunteer Foster Carer Group
Foster carers are volunteers with huge hearts by providing a safe home and nurturement required for babies, children and young people who may have endured trauma, neglect or other varied unsafe reasons they are placed into care by the court.
Children may be subject to short term care for possible restoration to biological parents or family, or for many years until they turn 18 years of age. Dept of Communities and Justice Foster Carer and Relative/Kinship Carer roles are intensely vetted authorised volunteer positions.
DCJ have only 4 foster care authorised households in Broken Hill in addition to 28 Relative/Kinship care authorised relatives or someone known to the child who takes on their care. Transitioning a young child into a home with strangers is not only very hard for the child but also the carer and their immediate family.
As well as their own family/work commitments, an extra child/children adds to their responsibilities. We have 2 foster carers with 22 years service and another with 17 years with over 100 placements through their many years of care.
Broken Hill Health Service Kiosk
The Broken Hill Health Service Kiosk, affectionately known as the Hospital Kiosk is operated by volunteers suppling healthy food choices for staff, patients, families and the community of Broken Hill and the region.
The diverse group of volunteers includes men and women up to the age of 85. They engage in a variety of tasks within the kiosk including meal preparation, dishwashing, barista services and customer service.
Many volunteers begin their cooking and preparation duties early in the morning and continue their work until 2.30pm, five days a week.
The profits generated from the Kiosk are reinvested into the Broken Hill Health Service funding the purchase of equipment that directly benefits patients. The contribution of the Kiosk last financial year was over $161,300
Sporting: Organisation
Broken Hill Aquatic
Broken Hill Aquatic is Broken Hill's oldest and only all local swimming club. The Club caters to all swimmers ranging from those just making the move from learn to swim to those taking to the big stage at National Championship events.
The Club has a big focus on being approachable and family friendly and members work hard to ensure swimmers are able to look beyond the black line and take their swimming skills into other aspects of their life. The Club encourages swimmers to get involved in both club and community events.
Over past years, the Club has taken part in a virtual Rottnest swim raising money for local charities including Broken Hill Palliative Care, How's Ya Mate as well as charities close to club members such as MND and Childhood Cancer Association.
Broken Hill Aquatic was recognized in 2024 with a merit award in the Swimming SA Club of the Year Awards.
Sporting: Individual
Grant Shepherd
Grant has been passionately involved in Park Run since it first started in Broken Hill in 2017. Parkrun is a volunteer based weekly running event occurring across Australia and internationally.
Grant is a well organised run director out at the race course early every Saturday morning to check the track and make sure it is safe and ready for the run. Through his leadership the Parkrun volunteers can proudly represent Broken Hill to runners from around Australia and internationally.
In 2024 Grant achieved his 100 volunteer milestone and is well on his way to achieving his 200th Volunteer Milestone. Tourism: Individual Paul Reed Paul regularly volunteers to conduct walk tours around the centre of town.
At nearly 80 years of age, his knowledge and passion for Broken Hill and mining is unmatched allowing him to provide an excellent in-depth tour.
Tourism: Organisation
Broken Hill Visitor Services Volunteer
The Broken Hill Visitor Services Volunteers are welcoming, informing and inspirational for the City's visitors. Whether serving as City Ambassadors at the Visitor Information Centre, participating in major events, or guiding Heritage Walk Tours, the Visitor Services volunteers are passionate about the city and its rich history.
Often the first point of contact for visitors, these volunteers significantly enhance the overall experience in Broken Hill.
Youth
Far West Local Health District Youth Advisory Committee
The Far West Local Health District Youth Advisory Committee is comprised of volunteers aged 12 to 24 years who represent diverse backgrounds and share a strong commitment to youth health.
They are eager to expand their knowledge to better support youth in their communities. Members chair their own meetings with the support of LHD staff amplifying the voices of adolescents and young people regarding health issues in rural and remote areas.
They have actively contributed to projects aimed at enhancing youth mental health and supporting LGBTQIA+ initiatives as part of the Agency for Clinical Innovation.
People's Choice
Raeleen Kennewell
Raeleen has been a long standing volunteer of both the hospital kiosk and Livebetter Community Transport. Raeleen lives with a disability, but she does not let this slow her down.
Raeleen never hesitates to provide help or assistance and is the first to nominate herself to assist wherever she can. Her unwavering enthusiasm and kindness have earned her the respect and admiration of others.
Nydia Edes Hall of Fame
Margot White
Margot has worked for Broken Hill since her earliest years assisting her mother Nydia Edes.
Margot was co-leader of the first city walk tour group formed in 1983 inspiring her passion to discover the history of the Trades Hall and the Broken Hill labour movement. Since 2010 Margot has played a critical part of the group working for the inclusion of the Trades Hall on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
As a long term member of the executive of the Family History Group, Margot has used her skills in historical research to document accurately the details of the grave sites at the cemetery.
Margot was a member of the first local drug and alcohol committee and since 1991 has been a member of the ARAFMI Group to assist carers of those suffering mental illness and advocating for improved facilities and better understanding of mental illness.
Margot was recognised in the Australian Women's Register in 2009 and is more comfortable to stay in the background At 92 years of age, Margot epitomises a life of service to her community.
