It's no surprise that 2020 has seen some amazing volunteer work by many dedicated community members, from all walks of life and in a huge variety of tasks.
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This year three women from Bodalla and Cobargo are among the 104 rural women throughout NSW recognised for the contribution they have made through volunteering with their names included on the 2020 Hidden Treasures Honour Roll.
The Hidden Treasures Honour Roll is an initiative of the Department of Primary Industries' Rural Women's Network to formally recognise and thank inspiring rural women volunteers within NSW rural, regional and remote communities.
Bodalla's Bev Davis along with Danielle Murphy and Chris Walters of Cobargo have been unrelenting volunteers helping with bushfire relief in their communities for the last 10 months.
Bev Davis is quite humble about her nomination saying "there are plenty of people out there turning the big cogs, I am just the grease that helps keep them going," she said.
Bev has lived and worked in the Bodalla area for most of her life and is a tireless volunteer for several organisations including the Bodalla Rural Fire Brigade, Presbyterian Church and the Bodalla CWA.
For many years she has worked for Children's Services for Eurobodalla Shire Council in centres at Narooma, Moruya and Batemans Bay where her work goes well beyond being a paid employee.
Since the January bushfires Bev has spent many hours visiting fire affected families especially around Eurobodalla, Cadgee and Nerrigundah where she has been offering support that has included comfort and hands on practical assistance.
She has also assisted with various forms of relief such as special events to raise funds for victims.
Bev has been liaising with various agencies to organise services and the distribution of donations and was on hand to help set up the Bodalla Food Hub.
"We are still distributing food for OzHarvest and now the church is putting out HelloFresh meals for people to prepare at Cadgee and Nerrigundah," she said.
Bev's nomination says she is not just a Hidden Treasure - she is an absolute gem and the word 'no' is simply not in her vocabulary.
Danielle Murphy and Chris Walters have been coordinating the Cobargo Bushfire Relief Centre together for the past 10 months, impacting on the lives of many in the aftermath of the New Years Eve bushfires.
"The Cobargo girls have done tonnes of work and deserve to be recognised," Mrs White said.
