By Jena Carr
Torquay’s Jean Young has been nationally recognised for her volunteer work in the Surf Coast and Geelong community.
Mrs Young received a Medal of the Order of Australia this week for her achievement of more than 30 years of service as a volunteer and said she was surprised to receive the award.
“It’s very embarrassing really, you don’t do anything to be rewarded,” she said.
Mrs Young, currently in her 80s, has worked with many organisations including The Outpost Geelong, Feed Me Surf Coast, the Alcohol and Drug Service in the Bendigo Region and helping the homeless in Albury.
She said her volunteer roles changed whenever she moved and that she had previously travelled to Papua New Guinea to teach native mothers to speak English and how to sew by hand.
“Over the years I’ve done a lot,” Mrs Young said.
“One thing you can do in one town you can’t do in another.”
Mrs Young is currently retired and said she enjoyed being a volunteer in her spare time and being able to meet a lot of new people.
“It was something I saw was needed and you can get a lot of enjoyment from it,” she said.
“I’m used to people and I’m a people person.”
Mrs Young has also previously received a Certificate of Appreciation for her work with the Australian Red Cross’ Torquay branch during the 2003 International Volunteers Day.
Mrs Young said she wanted to share a “general thanks” with her family and the people that nominated her.
