New England/Northern Inland Regional Winners
New England/Northern Inland Regional Regional Award Ceremony
NamoiROC kindly hosted the New England/Northern Inland Regional NSW Volunteer of the Year Award at Tamworth Regional Council.
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 Mr Ivan Hatch, Mrs Pat van Tilburg, Katrina McDonald (Executive Officer NamoiROC) and Cr Ian Lobsey (Chairman NamoiROC and Mayor Liverpool Plains Shire Council) |
 Nominees for the regional Volunteer of the Year Awards: Mrs Pat van Tilburg, Mr Keith and Mrs Gloria Kiehne, Ms Hazel Smith, Mr Tom Varcoe, Mr Ivan Hatch with Katrina McDonald, Executive Officer NamoiROC, and Cr Ian Lobsey, Chairman NamoiROC and Mayor Liverpool Plains Shire Council |
 Attendees at the regional Volunteer of the Year Awards including nominees, nominators, supporters and councilors and senior staff of Namoi Regional Organisation of Councils |
 Alison Bacon, Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Mr Peter and Mrs Pat van Tilburg and Cr Isabel Strutt, Uralla Shire Council and Chair of Advisory Committee Tablelands Community Transport |
New England / Northern Inland Region Volunteer of the Year
Patricia van Tilburg, of Tamworth
The New England/ North West operation of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service commenced in 2000. The helicopter service plays a vital aeromedical support role for many of the isolated communities. But it was not for another two years that a fundraising arm was formed under Patricia van Tilburg. The Support group's activities continued for five years under her chairmanship, its 12 people logging thousands of hours and raising sums of up to $50,000 in a year. Patricia is also involved with other not-for-profit organisations in the region, including the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Salvation Army and the Red Cross Blood Bank.
Her nominator, Margo Marchbank says: "Pat's record as chairperson of the Tamworth Support group is a testament both to her commitment as a volunteer and her leadership skills."
New England / Northern Inland Regional Senior Volunteer of the Year
Ivan Hatch of Tamworth
Ivan has been involved with the Uniting Church McKay House aged care facility for more than six years and in the past year has dedicated more than 1200 hours to volunteer services. His assistance with chores, including cleaning fish tanks, assisting residents to get around the house or serving morning or afternoon tea is a great assistance to Volunteer Coordinators. He has taken on a role with the Medication Management Committee acting as a vocal advocate for the residents.
His nominator, Isabell Styman says: "Ivan just seems to fill in where he is needed and able to get residents involved and make them feel included."