Nineteen volunteers were recognised with Dubbo Day Awards, while Nicole Johnstone was presented with the Tony McGrane Award for going “above and beyond” through her work as a podiatrist.

Ms Johnstone said she originally wan’t going to attend the award ceremony as it clashed with a meeting she had for scripture teachers. Even after arriving at the event, Ms Johnstone said she saw her name wasn’t on the list of award recipients and thought she could leave. 

However, she was convinced to stay.

Her nomination said: “Depending on the financial situation of some people a visit to a heath professional could sometimes be a want and not a need so Nicole took it upon herself to visit the elderly and the housebound. She visited those who were unable to attend her clinic and helped them free of charge simply to improve the lives of people struggling with pain and discomfort”.

The long-time volunteer said she was “horrified” and “extremely embarrassed” to have received the award. Ms Johnstone said she didn’t feel worthy of it.

She still makes home visits.

“I worked for nearly 30 years as a podiatrist in Dubbo and I’ve been retired for eight years. Anyone who needs your help, you’re hardly going to turn your back,” Ms Johnstone said.

She has also volunteered with groups such as the Dubbo branch of Can Assist, Dundullimal National Trust, Dubbo Eisteddfod and Meals on Wheels.

“I’ve been in Dubbo nearly half my life now and Dubbo has been very good to me so I just think it’s payback. If you’re living in a city that’s been good to you than that’s only what you’ve been obliged to do. And more, she said.

The winners of the Dubbo Day awards were: Jason Dearmer, Tom Gray, Fiona Prentice, Helen Kinsey, Frances Ellis, Fran Doughty, John Allen, Garry and Yvonne Gowans, Matt Hansen, Margaret Kelly, Rod Crowfoot, Rodney Nott, Lee Judd, Peter Judd, Pobyn Payne, Marie Tucker, and Larry and Helen Yeo.

Dubbo Day Awards Committee chair Bill Greenwood said the volunteers were the quiet achievers who went about their day without any expectations of praise or recognition.

“We all contribute to the city in which we live, but it is our volunteers who are the threads in our society’s fabric that fill the voids of services often not available from other agencies,” he said.

The Dubbo Day Awards are presented to volunteers each November on the anniversary of Dubbo’s gazettal as a village in 1849.