SHE has dedicated nine years of her life to organising the Hawkesbury’s annual Cancer Council Relay for Life, now Jenny Hamilton has been nominated for the 2015 NSW Volunteer of the Year.
Ms Hamilton is the current chairperson of the Relay for Life committee but has been a long term member of the organising committee which helps to improve cancer outcomes in the local community and grow the fundraising capacity of this well supported event.
Under Ms Hamilton’s leadership, the committee has raised $1,156,659 for life saving cancer research, prevention, information and support services.
She has also been instrumental in the creation and running of a local health expo which connects cancer patients and their carers with services in their immediate community; a model replicated throughout the state.
When Jenny is not busy working as an office co-ordinator with the Newborn Paediatric and Emergency Transport Service at Westmead or spending time with her two treasured grandchildren, volunteering for Cancer Council NSW is very important to her.
From seeing the immense impacts of cancer on close friends and family, Jenny hopes to generate awareness within the Hawkesbury community.
“We need to ensure the community understands the message that Relay imparts and the benefits that they can derive from being involved,” Ms Hamilton said.
Fellow committee member Caroline Raunjak, who has worked alongside Jenny on Hawkesbury Relay for Life over the past three years, believes Jenny’s spirit inspires those around her to come together and join efforts towards the cause.
“I truly believe a lot of the other committee members are there because of Jenny, which says a lot about her as a person,” Ms Raunjak said.
While Relay for Life has a multitude of facets, Ms Hamilton is above all drawn to the sense of community fostered through her volunteer experience.
She particularly values being part of the movement to share information and encourage informed decision making within the wider community.
“The process of initiating change within the community is gradual and it’s wonderful to see the seeds we plant grow,” she said.
The winners of the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards will be announced at an award ceremony on Thursday, September 24.
The program is an initiative of The Centre for Volunteering, the peak body for volunteering in NSW.
