Within a 12 month period, Wongarbon's Megan Hamblin has not only managed to claim the title of Citizen of the Year 2020, but she has also secured the title of Adult Volunteer of the Year 2020 at the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards for the Orana Region.
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Miss Hamblin has been a volunteer for the St John Ambulance Central Western NSW division for seven years and is now its hub leader for the Orana combined division.
She also volunteers as a member for the SES association board and is secretary of the Dubbo District Deaf Club.
Miss Hamblin's role with St Johns Ambulance entails hundreds of hours of volunteer work each year to provide vital first aid and public health services during community events.
Miss Hamblin said the award came as a complete surprise.
"I wasn't in attendance of the virtual ceremony as they had accidentally sent me the wrong link, so I was actually out in a paddock in the middle of nowhere when I got the call saying that I had won," she said.
"So, I had no idea, I didn't see it coming.
"I was completely shocked and I had to get a friend to accept it on my behalf.
"It was a really nice surprise though, with St Johns we're quiet achievers, we don't get much recognition, nor do we expect it.
"We don't set out in the hopes of getting recognition, we set out to help people, so it's nice to be noticed by someone for the hard work we do."
Miss Hamblin said it's not all hard work and no play volunteering for St Johns Ambulance, however, as it has taken her to some incredible places, as well as provided her with once in a lifetime opportunities such as the chance to meet the royals when they visited Dubbo in 2018.
Miss Hamblin said she first decided to become a volunteer when she was living in Cobar and didn't have all that much to do with her time.
"A friend of mine was doing it so I thought I would have a go, I already had a background in first aid so I thought why not," she said.
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"I loved it, it's wonderful. It's an amazing organisation.
"St Johns is like one very large family."
Miss Hamblin said with the return of events in store for the coming weeks volunteers will be back out on the grounds and the Orana Combined division is currently looking for more volunteers to join.
"Anyone who is interested in becoming a member can head to the St Johns NSW website," she said.
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Your story matters, your voice deserves to be heard and I would love to help you share it. I have five years of experience as a Journalist with Australian Community Media covering an array of topics, with a key focus on breaking news and crime and a passion for people. E: taylor.dodge@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
