AFTER a COVID-19 outbreak put Penshurst’s Australia Day events on hold earlier this year, the announcement of Penshurst Citizen of the Year was also delayed.

However, when the event eventually took place last month, the town’s unassuming honouree was absent, busy delivering clothes and other essentials to a refugee charity in Ballarat.

Sue Jellie was recognised for her extensive contribution to the community through the Lions Club of Penshurst and District, the Boram Boram Cemetery Trust, the Mt Rouse and District Historical Society, and the Friends of Yatmerone Landcare Group.

Mrs Jellie, who currently serves as the Lions Club Secretary, said she was embarrassed to receive such an award - like many who freely contribute their time, effort, and skills to the community, she never set out to receive any sort of accolade.

“It's not just a single person that does it, you’re in a group,” she said.

“I am one member in the clubs I am involved with … we all do what we can to help our community in whatever capacity we can.

“We get great satisfaction in helping others, and I believe if you can make just one person’s life happier or easier then you have accomplished a great thing.”

Mrs Jellie said she had always wanted to volunteer, but found it hard to make time in between work, looking after her animals, and helping husband Jeff with their farm.

That was until twelve years ago, when a close friend encouraged her to join the Penshurst Lions Club, and Mrs Jellie started to build her portfolio of volunteer work.

“A friend of mine joined Lions out at Penshurst and said, ‘you really should join’, and I said, ‘I don't think I have enough time for that’, and she said, ‘you’d be surprised’, so she joined one year, and I joined the following year,” she said.

“Of course, once you join a club, everyone wants you to join their group.

“We joined the Historical Society … and then we joined the Cemetery Trust … we also help out at the Friends of Yatmerone, a wetland area just on the edge of Penshurst, it was mainly farming land at one stage … we have planted trees and shrubs and native grasses and turned it from farmland back to native vegetation that would have been there years ago.”

Mrs Jellie has also joined local efforts to relocate the Penshurst Bushfire Place of Last Resort from the vacant lot behind the Senior Citizens Rooms, to the town hall.

She said it was important to move the Place of Last Resort in order to provide people with a comfortable and easy-to-locate space to seek refuge.

“You can get out of the weather … people feel better if they can be in a place and talk to other people.”

According to Mrs Jellie, the biggest issue facing community groups at the moment is recruiting volunteers, because most people believe they do not have enough time to contribute.

The worry is that once the current generation of volunteers are no longer able to help out, community groups will fizzle out, leaving a gaping hole in small towns.  

“Everyone is so busy doing other things and the community groups are suffering,” she said.

“A lot of groups or branches have folded in recent years … I worry what will become of these groups in years to come.

“Unfortunately, our communities are going to suffer if we don’t have our hospital ladies’ committees, our Lions Clubs and suchlike … I would highly recommend you volunteer at a club or organisation - you will be surprised at the satisfaction you will get from doing so.”