‘‘It's not a bother,'' is Mrs Harries' favourite saying.
As a volunteer part-time receptionist at Community Networks and a relief Meals on Wheels driver among other things, Mrs Harries was chosen after her name was put forward for the Community Networks' ‘‘Dob in a Volunteer'' campaign, which was running as part of Volunteer Awareness Week this week.
Mrs Harries was nominated by the rest of the Community Networks team, but selected as the winner by independent judge Wanaka Community Board chairman Lyal Cocks.
Since leaving Wellington four years ago - where she was also a volunteer - Mrs Harries had grown accustomed to the ‘‘casualness'' and ‘‘nice and safe'' feeling in Wanaka, and enjoyed the opportunity to meet people through her volunteer work.
Mrs Harries also helps with Senior Citizens' afternoon teas and offers weekly companionship for an elderly woman in her home.
‘‘I like to help wherever I can,'' Mrs Harries said.
Community Networks manager Shirley Boyes said Mrs Harries often did not want to go home from her voluntary stints behind the desk if something was not completed, even if someone else was able to pick it up the next day.
‘‘Her commitment is amazing,'' Mrs Boyes said.
Mrs Harries had not been a volunteer for Community Networks for very long, but the amount of work she had done and the quality of it was ‘‘amazing'', Mrs Boyes said.
‘‘She's a very special lady.'' - Mrs Harries' volunteer work was recognised at a special gettogether yesterday. Her name and the names of the other ‘‘dobbed in'' Wanaka volunteers will be put forward for Volunteering Otago's ‘‘Dob in a Volunteer'' award, to be announced in Dunedin on July 16.
