twenty sixth June 2026
Hidden Treasures: Celebrating the Girls Who Strengthen Regional NSW
Throughout regional, rural and distant New South Wales, numerous ladies give their time, expertise and power to help the communities they name dwelling. Typically, their work occurs quietly, with out recognition or reward.
In 2010 the Hidden Treasures Honour Roll was established to acknowledge and shine a light-weight on the important function ladies and women play as volunteers in these communities. It’s unlike conventional awards packages as it’s not a contest; nominations are made by associates, colleagues, neighborhood members or volunteer organisations and over the previous 15 years, has honoured 1,348 ladies and women.
Their tales mirror the variety of volunteer experiences throughout NSW and exhibit the highly effective impression one individual can have once they select to present again.
As a part of this 12 months’s celebrations, volunteers have been recognised in the course of the 2026 Volunteer Thank You Occasion, “She Offers Again – celebrating ladies who volunteer”, hosted by Kristie Ivone the 2026 Rural Girls’s Award NSW/ACT State Winner and Nationwide Finalist. WIRES is proud to have had three exceptional volunteers acknowledged on the occasion. Whereas their journeys are distinctive, they share a standard dedication to making a optimistic change for wildlife.
Three WIRES Hidden Treasures Making an Affect on Wildlife in Regional NSW
Janine Inexperienced, Merimbula
For greater than 25 years, Janine Inexperienced has been a driving drive behind wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. As a long-serving volunteer with WIRES Far South East Department, she has been concerned in additional than 4,100 native animal rescues, rehabilitations, releases and welfare interventions, serving to numerous animals affected by automobile strikes, habitat loss, bushfires and different environmental challenges.
Janine is usually referred to as upon to reply to essentially the most advanced and emotionally troublesome conditions. Since 2014, she has served as an authorised wildlife shooter, a job requiring each technical experience and immense sensitivity. In these difficult circumstances, she supplies help not solely to injured animals but in addition to the carers and neighborhood members concerned.
Her impression extends effectively past frontline rescue work. As a devoted coach since 2017, Janine has accomplished intensive specialist coaching and delivered quite a few macropod and wombat care programs, serving to construct the abilities and confidence of volunteers all through her area.
Jane Wilson, Younger
Jane (far proper) with different native volunteers additionally celebrated within the Honour Roll
For greater than twenty years, Jane Wilson has quietly devoted herself to the welfare of native wildlife, combining hands-on care with environmental motion and volunteer management. Since becoming a member of the WIRES Weddin–Lachlan Department in 2009, she has helped rescue, rehabilitate and launch lots of of native animals.
Jane’s ardour for wildlife extends past particular person rescues. By means of intensive coaching and mentoring, she has performed an necessary function in strengthening the information and functionality of fellow volunteers.
All through her years with WIRES, Jane’s experience has additionally been recognised at a state stage by her contribution to the Small Mammals Administration Workforce, the place she helps develop sources, coaching and help for wildlife carers throughout the organisation.
Exterior of her formal volunteer work, Jane’s dedication to conservation continues. She has remodeled her personal property right into a wildlife-friendly launch web site and has labored with native Landcare initiatives to take away kilometres of barbed wire fencing, serving to shield susceptible squirrel glider populations.
Jane’s dedication displays a deep perception that caring for wildlife additionally means caring for the setting and the neighborhood.
Dianne Nicholson, Holbrook
Power, willpower and generosity outline Dianne Nicholson’s method to volunteering. Since rejoining the WIRES Murray River Department in 2020, she has change into a tireless advocate for native wildlife, contributing to the rescue, rehabilitation and launch of greater than 1,050 animals.
In 2025 alone, she has responded to greater than 100 wildlife alerts, guaranteeing injured and orphaned animals obtain well timed care throughout the Murray River and Snowy Mountains areas.
Dianne’s affect reaches far past the animals she helps straight. She is a trusted mentor who helps and encourages new carers, sharing her information with endurance, heat and humour. Her willingness to information others has strengthened volunteer networks and helped construct a tradition of confidence and collaboration inside her department.
Dedicated to steady studying, Dianne has accomplished intensive coaching throughout a broad vary of species and has additionally stepped into coaching roles herself, serving to introduce new volunteers to wildlife rescue and care.
Above all, Dianne is understood for her unwavering readiness to assist. Her positivity, resilience and generosity make her a useful member of her neighborhood and a real Hidden Treasure.
Watch the video of her acknowledgement in native parliament – Justin Clancy MP acknowledges Dianne in parliament
Collectively, Janine, Jane and Dianne characterize the extraordinary dedication proven by ladies volunteers throughout regional New South Wales. By means of 1000’s of hours of service, they’ve protected wildlife, strengthened volunteer networks and enriched the communities round them. Their tales are a robust reminder that behind each thriving neighborhood are people who quietly dedicate themselves to creating a distinction.
