Volunteers' efforts recognised

ROUND OF APPLAUSE: Receiving their certificates from the Special Olympians were Liz Robertson (left), Mike Smith, Margaret Boyle, Joyce Balfour, Vanessa Boyle, Danny Kavanagh (absent).PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY 240515WCBRCOLY01

A group of hard-working volunteers got to receive their recognition from the people who have benefited from it the most at the Special Olympics Wanganui headquarters yesterday.

Three senior volunteers were presented certificates for 10 years service, while three others were recognised for 20-year long service certificates.

Special Olympian Sam Donaldson, a gold medal winning swimmer at the 2011 world summer games in Athens, said: "There's a good reason why our volunteers are so important.

"Because without them, we would have no sports and we would not be able to go away to events."

Wanganui chairman Paul Gibson said they usually have a local public figure hand over the certificates.

"We decided to have the athletes the volunteers have been helping, present the awards. Seemed to be a nice way to do it."

Long Service recipient Margaret Boyle said she has loved every minute of the 20 years.

"We came back to Wanganui in 1992 when my daughter joined Special Olympics. It's been wonderful for her, all these years.

"I've been to three-four national games, my daughter went to the world games in Ireland."