Tea Gardens local, Yvonne O’Donnell, said while she was touched by her nomination for Great Lakes Citizen of the Year, she was not one to seek recognition for her work.

“I do it for myself as well as the community,” she said. “I think you get more out of volunteering than what you give. You get to meet interesting people and it gets you out of the house. It’s very rewarding”. Yvonne is a tower of strength in the aged care sector in the Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest area. She has prepared and delivered meals for Meals on Wheels for 14 years. She is also a volunteer for Neighbour Aid, the Myall Dolphins and a caller for Telecross and Telechat, checking on the welfare of the elderly. For almost a decade she has been secretary of the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Red Cross. She is also a member of the Breakfast Club at Tea Gardens Public School, preparing breakfasts for 50 plus children. HUMBLE: Yvonne O’Donnell says that volunteering is very rewarding.