MARGOT White has been inducted into the Nydia Edes Hall of Fame at the recent Volunteer Awards.
In something of a full circle transformation, Mrs White has worked for Broken Hill since her earliest years assisting her mother Nydia Edes.
Now 92 years young, Mrs White 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, she 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, Mrs White has used her skills in historical research to document accurately the details of the grave sites at the cemetery.
She 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.
Mrs White was recognised in the Australian Women’s Register in 2009 and is more comfortable to stay in the background.
The hall of fame induction was just one award of many given to locals who attended the Volunteer Awards at the Civic Centre last week.
The annual Volunteer Awards were well attended and highlighted the amazing array of volunteer activities and services here in Broken Hill.
Mrs White also received the Individual Community Volunteer award.
The Community Organisation award went to the Quota Club of Broken Hill.
The Community Volunteer award went to the Family History Group.
The Cultural: Individual award was given to Leah Maj, who has been a member of the Broken Hill Repertory Society for 13 years.
The Cultural: Organisation award went to the Broken Hill City Art Gallery volunteers, who annually contribute over 1500 hours to the venue, and play a central role in its success and long term impact. As the front face of the Gallery, they provide a welcome experience to over 15,000 visitors per year.
The Environment: Organisation award was given to Landcare Broken Hill, who have 15 volunteers that donate their time to the Imperial Lakes and other sites.
The opening of the 1915 Picnic Train Attack Museum was recognised for the volunteer effort to get the museum up and running thanks to the Sulphide Street Railway Museum volunteers.
The opening of the museum simply named 1915 was held on September 26, 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 Department of Communities and Justice Volunteer Foster Carer Group received the volunteer Health award.
The Broken Hill Health Service Kiosk received the Health and Social Services award.
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.
The Sporting: Organisation award was given to the Broken Hill Aquatic Club while the Sporting: Individual award went to Grant Shepherd for his involvement in Broken Hill parkrun.
Mr Shepherd has been passionately involved in parkrun since it first started in Broken Hill in 2017. The initiative is a volunteer based weekly running event occurring across Australia and internationally.
A well organised run director, Mr Shepherd can be found out at the racecourse 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.
The Tourism: Organisation award went to the Broken Hill Visitor Services Volunteer, who participate in major events, guide Heritage Walks and are City Ambassadors.
The Youth award was given to the Far West Local Health District Youth Advisory Committee, which is comprised of volunteers aged 12 to 24 with a strong commitment to youth health.
The final award was the People’s Choice which went to Raeleen Kennewell. Mrs Kennewell has been a long-standing volunteer of both the hospital kiosk and Livebetter Community Transport.
