Roy Bartlett from StarJam, a charity set up for disabled people. Photo / Greg Bowker
To nominate an Unsung Hero for their community service and for terms and conditions go to: www.unsungheroes.org.nz
Roy Bartlett's colleagues say you could be forgiven for thinking the 62-year-old is on the payroll at the Auckland charity StarJam.
"Roy's typical working week involves a minimum of 40 hours at the office, countless hours behind the scenes with trustee work and still more hours ferrying kids to and
fro for StarJam workshops and monthly get-togethers," said Liane Clarke, who works with the unpaid volunteer.
Ms Clarke has nominated Mr Bartlett for the Herald Unsung Heroes series which acknowledges the wonderful work people do in their communities. Five nominees will be chosen at the end of the series to join a P&O cruise.
Ms Clarke said Mr Bartlett had multiple sclerosis but "does not let it slow him down" at StarJam - an organisation that creates performance and limelight opportunities for young people with disabilities.
As well as managing the charity's head office, Mr Bartlett is a regular gig manager and secretary on StarJam's board of trustees.
"Roy is not just a much-loved member of the StarJam team, he is a well-respected member of the not-for-profit community having previously worked for Presbyterian Support, the Alzheimer's Foundation, Home & Family and the Multiple Sclerosis Society, all in a variety of roles," said Ms Clarke.
"Because of Roy's quiet and unassuming 'working-in-the-background' approach, because much of his work is behind the scenes and never seen by our stakeholders, and because StarJam would struggle without his input and support, he truly is an unsung hero."
Mr Bartlett, who is one of the founders of StarJam, told the Herald he did what he did for the sheer joy of it and was happy to live on one income - his wife's.
"The magic of StarJam, how it transforms young people with disabilities' lives, is just mindblowing and I think when you get to my stage in life if you think you are putting something back into the community that's making a real difference then that's a real joy."
"It gives me pleasure to do it and satisfaction, I've just met so many amazing people within the families ... it's just an amazing place to be really."
Mr Bartlett said StarJam was recognised in the community section of the 2010 New Zealander of the Year awards. He would never seek recognition for what he did, but if being nominated for the Herald series generated more publicity for the organisation, that would be a great bonus.
The Unsung Community Heroes series is run annually in the The Herald and on nzherald.co.nz in partnership with P&O Cruises. We invited nominations from readers to recognise people who selflessly work to make a difference in their local communities.
Some will be selected to feature in the paper and on nzherald.co.nz. Five will be chosen to join a P&O winter cruise.
