Since moving to the Eurobodalla Shire to retire five years ago, the former high school teacher has devoted countless hours of her time, volunteering with the Cancer Council, Mogo Zoo and Batemans Bay Quota Club.

At a ceremony in Queanbeyan yesterday, Mrs Skelton was recognised for her outstanding commitment, taking out the region’s overall Volunteer of the Year Award for 2018.

The awards celebrate the work of volunteers from across the South Coast and Southern Inland region.

For almost five years, Mrs Skelton has helped coordinate up to 40 volunteer drivers through the Cancer Council’s Transport to Treatment program.

The service provides transport to local cancer patients needing a hand to get to oncology appointments, radio therapy and chemotherapy treatment as far away as Sydney, Canberra and Nowra.

It operates on the back of volunteers based across both ends of the shire, with a single patient transport car based in Dalmeny.

Mrs Skelton has helped the Eurobodalla team grow from seven volunteers in just a few years and has provided transport for more than 320 patients over 43,000km.

“The most rewarding part is meeting the needs of these people and seeing this dedicated team of people that can just ‘do’,” Mrs Skelton told the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a case where I’ve said I couldn’t take someone (to treatment).

“Each month we service about 12 clients and the volunteers go to Canberra or Nowra at least once a week, each.”

She said the service was vital in a regional area like the Eurobodalla, where both transport and treatment options were limited.

“Most clients are over 60, but it’s open to all age groups,” she said.

“The main criteria is they’ve got no other way of getting to treatment. 

“We have a lot of isolated people down here, who have no relatives nearby and no way of getting to their appointments.

“We don’t have radiation here, so clients have to go to Nowra or Canberra. We have chemotherapy in Moruya, but certain forms of X-rays and CT scans are not able to be done here.”

She encouraged others to get involved with the program. “We have the best team; they’re just so wonderful,” she said.

When she’s not helping cancer patients receive vital treatment, Mrs Skelton is driving community programs through Batemans Bay Quota Club and leading school groups around Mogo Zoo.

The Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate said volunteers like Mrs Skelton made an enormous contribution.

“It was so pleasing to recognise their outstanding efforts and also celebrate the special contribution of the volunteers,” Ms Rygate said.

Mrs Skelton will go on to represent the region at the State Final of the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards in November.