“I feel honoured to have been nominated, however a little bit bemused,” she said.
“There are many other people who deserve it as much as me or more than me, but I do appreciate it.”
She has yet to determine who nominated her for the award, though Mrs Kennett would like to thank them.
Mrs Kennett has volunteered at several organisations, including the Numurkah and District Historical Society, Numurkah Pioneers Memorial Lodge, Numurkah and District Development Committee and MHA Care Meals on Wheels Numurkah.
She said she benefited greatly from volunteering.
“I don’t like sitting around and not doing anything very productive,” Mrs Kennett said.
“I’m always keen to do something worthwhile with my time.”
Getting to know the other volunteers is Mrs Kennett’s favourite part about volunteering in the Numurkah community.
“Some don’t talk, but some do share parts of their life, and I’m keen to listen to anything,” she said.
“You meet wonderful people who are very special and have interesting stories to tell.”
Mrs Kennett’s service to the Numurkah community has previously been acknowledged, having been honoured as the Numurkah Citizen of the Year in 2020.
Before volunteering, Mrs Kennett was a nurse at Goulburn Valley Base Hospital, now Goulburn Valley Health, and the former Mooroopna hospital.
She also co-owned a dairy farm with her husband on the Invergordon Closer Settlement.
It’s been tough for Mrs Kennett to keep the news of her award a secret.
“It’s been very hush-hush, none of my family knows,” she said.
“It’s been a little hard (to keep it to myself), I’ve nearly let the information drop a couple of times.”
As somebody who has spent a lot of time volunteering in the community, Mrs Kennett suggests that everyone should give it a go.
“I would like to encourage other people to volunteer, there is a great need (for them),” Mrs Kennett said.
“A lot of people from my generation can’t volunteer any more, it’s time for the next generation to come up.
“It’s very satisfying, and I highly recommend it.”
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