As part of Volunteer Week, we asked our community to nominate volunteers who make a huge difference in the groups, organisations and communities around them.
One of the very first nominations that came through was for Tracy Dell from 1st Burrill-Ulladulla Sea Scouts, and the words used to describe her kept coming back to the same thing:
“The backbone and glue of the group.”
Tracy volunteers as Group Leader for Ulladulla Scouts, supporting young people across multiple age groups while also helping coordinate leaders, parents, committees, district connections and the many moving parts that keep a community organisation running.
For newer volunteers coming into the group, Tracy has also become a steady source of guidance and encouragement. One nominee shared: “I’ve just started as a trainee leader and she’s guided me every step of the way, through understanding the whole group, my personal training and everything in between.”
The nomination shared one particularly memorable moment from just this week involving Cubs, their friends, Oobleck, sticky rice, shaving cream and tinned spaghetti.
Apparently, while most people may have been reconsidering their life choices at cleanup time, Tracy simply got stuck in with a giant smile on her face. “I may not have been smiling if it were me…” the nominee admitted.
Tracy was described in three words: Knowledgeable. Guiding. Supportive.
A pretty fitting summary for someone helping shape such an important space for local young people.
Thank you Tracy, and thank you to all the volunteers across our community who bring so much energy, care, patience and leadership into the groups and organisations of the South Shoalhaven.