Narrabri Shire Council has paid tribute to the dedication of community volunteers, again holding a special ceremony for the 2025 Volunteer of the Year award.
Charmaine Berding, of Boggabri, was announced as this year’s recipient recognising her significant impact on the community.
Noreen Boehm, also of Boggabri, was announced as a finalist at last Thursday morning’s ceremony.
Charmaine described the special honour as heartwarming.
“I am a volunteer for Boggabri Drovers Campfire, president for the Boggabri public school P&C, part of the swimming club committee and junior rugby league,” she said.
“I am definitely very humbled to receive this award, especially beside the incredible Noreen.”
“You just don’t expect anything in return; you do what needs to be done, so it is incredibly heartwarming to be recognised like this.”
“It is definitely not just a one-man band to make events like Drovers happen.”
“There are so many like-minded people who do so much behind the scenes.”
Noreen, who has been involved in the Boggabri community for many year, was also named Boggabri’s Senior of the Year earlier this year.
She said it was a nice surprise to receive the nomination and announced as a finalist.
“When you are volunteering you just do it without thinking, and don’t really realise the impact you’ve made until you hear it back,” she said.
“We are very lucky in this small town and I’m just happy to contribute to the pride.”
“It was a lovely little private ceremony.”
Charmaine and Noreen were presented with certificates by deputy mayor Brett Dickinson while council’s acting community development coordinator Jo Hannaford arranged the festivities.
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