One of the region's most dedicated volunteers has been congratulated for her contribution to the community at last week's WA Volunteer of the Year Awards.
Goomalling resident Wendy Williams was awarded the WA Lifetime Contribution to Volunteering Award for her four decades of work within the shire.
Mrs Williams said the nomination was a shock and a slight embarrassment.
"I was very humbled to be alongside all the other winners," she said.
"I married into a family of volunteers and saw it as a good way to get involved in the community.
"I have made life long friends."
Mrs William's involvement in locals groups has been extensive.
At the start of her volunteering career in the early 1980s, Mrs Williams was a participant of the inaugural Community Builders Programme, a committee member of the primary school P&C, a founding member of the Goomalling and Districts Development Group and board member and chair of the Goomalling and Districts Hospital.
Mrs Williams said her involvement in the majority of the groups had been because of her interests in history.
"I worry about the future of our town," she said.
"What would happen if I wasn't around to help out? There aren't many other people up for it.
"At the awards the average age of the volunteers was in their 60s.
"Between myself and the two other finalists in my category we had a combined volunteering total of 150 years."
Mrs Williams has been the secretary and treasurer of the Railways Station Restoration Society committee, has run the local Endeavour Newspaper, chaired the Dowerin Goomalling Nursing Home Fundraising committee and an inaugural member and deputy chair of the Western Health Service District Board.
With a background in accounting, Mrs Williams said her involvement has not been limited to her field of knowledge.
"These days a lot of young people are only involved in their sporting group," she said.
"We need to work together as a community and help each other out.
"There are currently a lot of cliques."
Mrs Williams was a councillor for the Shire of Goomalling for 12 years and was appointed in inaugural chair of Avon Tourism, the peak body of promotion for the region.
Her latest volunteering venture has been running the heritage listed and shire-owned Slater Homestead.
With the help of Mrs Williams the site is open to the public for high teas, accommodation and functions.
Through her fundraising efforts, Mrs Williams has helped raise more than $145,000 towards the refurbishment and landscaping of the grounds.
She said she has been proud to be involved in making change within the community during her time volunteering.
During her time as the chair of the hospital board and with the Dowering Goomalling Nursing Home committee, Mrs Williams helped lobby for the Mortlock Multi-Purpose Service and helped coordinate $200,000 in community funds towards hospital refurbishments.
Wheatbelt Volunteer Hub coordinator Tanya Richardson said Mrs Williams encompasses what it means to be a volunteer.
"I always knew Wendy did a lot of volunteering, but it wasn't until she was formally nominated for an award that I realised just how much she has done," Mrs Richardson said.
"Many of the roles she has undertaken have been inaugural ones too.
"Not only is Wendy a wonderful volunteer, she is also a wonderful person and she is very deserving of the award.
"Most volunteers don't do it for the recognition and Wendy is no different, but she really does echo this year's theme of 'Making a World of Difference'."
