Forbes' own hidden treasures

Jodie Greenhalgh, Wilma Hepburn, Darlene Lawler, Maggie McPhail, Molly Neilsen, Daphne Prior, Alison Uphill and Julie Virtue join 153 other women in NSW who have been acknowledged for their volunteer roles and valuable contribution to the local community.

NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson unveiled the 2014 Hidden Treasures Honour Roll at the 2014 NSW Rural Women’s Gathering in Coolamon in southern NSW recently.

“This honour roll provides a long lasting legacy to tireless women volunteers, who are the backbone of many rural and regional communities,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

“With more than 500 women now enshrined on the honour roll, this is our way of saying thank you and honouring what you do.

“Women are doing a great job across regional centres and small villages, playing an important voluntary role by providing support to community organisations, local businesses and of course families.”

Ms Hodgkinson also announced a $30,000 sponsorship package for the next NSW Rural Women’s Gathering, to be hosted in Glen Innes from October 9-11, 2015.

“These women’s gatherings provide opportunities for women from diverse backgrounds to come together to build resilience, learn, share experiences and support each other while gaining access to decision-makers, information and service providers,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

“The theme of the Glen Innes gathering will be ‘Gather in the Glen’.”

Hidden Treasures is a joint project of the Department of Primary Industries’ Rural Women’s Network and the Centre for Volunteering, NSW.

For more information and a full list of this year’s Hidden Treasures Honour Roll awardees, visit www.dpi.gov.au/rwn

Grab a copy of Saturday's Advocate for full profiles on each of the local women nominated for the honour roll.