JAN White is a name that many around Wentworth know for her volunteer work, and recently her efforts were formally recognised.
The volunteering veteran was named at the Far West Volunteer of the Year for 2024, as well as Senior Volunteer of the Year, at a ceremony in Broken Hill on Wednesday last week.
Mrs White said she was “massively overwhelmed” to receive the award.
“You just like what you are doing and the people that you work with and feel that you are making a bit of a contribution,” she said.
“You wouldn’t do it if you didn’t like it, and you’re working with great people, so that’s what you do.
“Ask anyone around the place that is volunteering and they will all say the same thing, they don’t do it for any awards or any recognition, they just do it because the need is there and they want to do it.”
Mrs White moved to the Wentworth area in 1958 as a young teacher from Hay, and it wasn’t long before she became involved in various aspects of the town.
Among her time volunteering at the Country Women’s Association, Wentworth Bowling Club, Meals on Wheels and the Wentworth Show Society, Mrs White has also been with the New South Western Standard Bulletin almost since its inception in 1979.
She also taught water safety and swimming lessons in Wentworth for years, helping hundreds of children learn how to be safe in local pools and waterways.
“When we first came to Wentworth, the Catholic priest was having swimming lessons, so I was helping him for some years, and then we were doing it for the Department of Sport and Recreation,” Mrs White said.
“Quite often somebody will say to me, “Oh Mrs White, you taught me to swim!”, so that is always very nice.”
Far West Volunteer of the Year awards were started and are run by the Centre of Volunteering.
Recipients of the other awards are James Dall’Armi from Broken Hill; Young Volunteer of the Year, Kerry-Sue Pascoe from Broken Hill; Adult Volunteer of the Year, and Broken Hill Breast Cancer Support & Fundraising Group; Volunteer Team of the Year.
Chief executive Gemma Rygate said the awards highlight the important work of local people in all facets of their communities, with the real value of volunteering hours in New South Wales equating to around $178 billion.
“These awards recognise the exceptional effort of volunteers across the Far West region of NSW,” she said.
“It’s important for volunteers across the region to know that their commitment is recognised and valued.”
Mrs White has now been invited to attend the presentation for the NSW Volunteer of the Year award in Sydney on December 10.
