The pricelessness of a true volunteer

By Natasha Fujimoto

FOR 70 years this October, Shepparton’s Margaret McNeil has been a veritable stalwart of volunteerism, providing the invaluable glue that brings people of all ages together in pursuit of fraternity, service and community.

Following a fine family tradition, the jovial octogenarian began ‘helping out’ in the arts pavilion of the Shepparton Agricultural Show at an early age.

Going on to win her first of many prizes at the 1953 Coronation Show for her Cornish pasties, the spark of community spirit had been struck with Margaret, eventually moving forward to serve on the Shepparton Show Society’s executive council and become secretary of the women’s committee.

In addition to Margaret’s time donated to the Show Society, she was also a regional leader for Girl Guides, encompassing the responsibility of 13 towns as well as mentoring her own class of 24.

When asked about her inexhaustive enthusiasm for volunteering, Margaret said, “With the show, I just liked coming together with different people and sometimes show time would be the only time you’d meet up with them.

“It doesn’t cost you to be a volunteer and I’ve always found that you get so much more out of volunteering than you ever put in.”

While lamenting the gradual decline of volunteerism in the community, Margaret will no doubt continue her passion for helping others.

With a heart clearly bigger than her bank of time, Margaret continues her involvement with Girl Guides, is a member of the Shepparton Probus Club, has been known