Thirty-five years of volunteering with local health services, adding up to around 40,000-plus hours.
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It's no wonder Beryl Harris has been named the NSW Senior Volunteer of the Year for the South Coast and Southern Tablelands.
Volunteers from across the South Coast and Southern Tablelands were on Friday afternoon recognised for their outstanding contribution to volunteering at a special ceremony in Queanbeyan.
The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards is an annual program run by The Centre for Volunteering, which has grown to become one of the largest celebrations of volunteering across the country.
Regional finalists for the awards are announced at 21 ceremonies throughout NSW and are invited to a gala ceremony in Sydney for the announcement of the 2019 NSW Volunteer of the Year.
There isn't a section of the Bega hospital where Beryl hasn't volunteered in some way for the past three-and-a-half decades.
Earlier this year she was given the surprise honour of a Volunteer of the Year Quality Award.
At the time she said she didn't do it for accolades..
"I just like being around a family, they come and they go but it remains one family.
"It's such a big passion of mine to be able to give what I can give to people who are less fortunate than me.
"As long as I'm helping people, I don't expect to get anything.
"I'm not here for that, I'm here to have compassion and lots and lots of empathy, because that's what you need to work here."
The list of Beryl's involvement over the years is almost too long to list in full.
However, it includes as a member of the hospital auxiliary since 1980, helping establish the "Pink Ladies" in 1985 to assist patients with comfort and care, establishing the role of volunteers in the oncology ward in 2000, pastoral carer and palliative carer from 2004, dementia and delirium program since 2009, and more recently in the sub-acute rehab unit's breakfast club.
According to her nomination, put forward by Ann Mawhinney, "it is in her DNA to care, comfort and nurture".
"Her tireless dedication - even when she has been very ill herself - to the hospital system is exemplary...a significant saving to the hospital coffers and immeasurable comfort to thousands of people at a time of their greatest need."
She's described as a much-respected presence, a formidable advocate for her patients, a quiet achiever and quick with a friendly smile and reassuring pat of the hand.
It's understood Beryl's health issues prevented her from attending the Queanbeyan ceremony, where awards in several categories were presented. Her award was accepted on her behalf by Eurobodalla Shire Mayor Liz Innes.
Nimmitabel sheep farmer Duncan Taylor was named the region's Adult Volunteer of the Year and the South Coast and Southern Tablelands Volunteer of the Year.
Mr Taylor was the founding chairman and volunteer CEO of the Country Universities Centre, having helped establish the group's first regional centre in Cooma six years ago.
The centres provide access to university and TAFE education to students in rural communities, helping them to gain new skills while remaining in country NSW.
Through Mr Taylor's persistent volunteer work he has now helped establish six Country University Centres in NSW that are helping to educate hundreds of students throughout the state.
The Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate said volunteers from across the region had given so much to the local community.
"Your volunteers build connections for people in towns and communities across the region," Ms Rygate said.
"They help to build such positive experiences and links to services across health, education and community sectors. Our ceremony today recognises their work and allows us to say thank you.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said volunteers made an enormous contribution to local communities.
"A vibrant volunteering sector leads to healthy and strong communities," Mr Ward said.
"In NSW, volunteers contribute more than $5billion to the economy each year and their social contribution is even greater. The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are a fitting way to say thank you."
ClubsNSW CEO Anthony Ball said that volunteers were the backbone of licensed clubs across the state, so it was a natural fit for the industry to support such an important program.
"The calibre of our local volunteers never ceases to amaze me, and I'm proud to represent an industry in which around 32,000 volunteers help to make clubs such great places," Mr Ball said.
"I congratulate all the volunteers who were recognised at today's ceremony for their dedication and commitment."
The 2019 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award recipients for the South Coast & Southern Tablelands:
Young Volunteer of the Year - Thomas Shannon, Goulburn Speedway and Windellama Rural Fire Brigade from Windellama
Adult Volunteer of the Year - Duncan Taylor, Country Universities Centre, from Nimmitabel
Senior Volunteer of the Year - Beryl Harris South East Regional Hospital, Bega
Volunteer Team of the Year - Goulburn Relay for Life Event Committee
South Coast and Southern Tableland 2019 Volunteer of the Year - Duncan Taylor Country Universities Centre, from Nimmitabel