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Local Volunteer Highlight
march, 2025
Jaimee’s call of duty
When the siren sounds, emergency services volunteer Jaimee Mustard is ready and waiting with her unique set of practical skills, experience and empathy.
Born into a family of CFS volunteers, the station was like “a big family” for our Young Citizen of the Year, who joined as a cadet at the age of 11.
Now 26, Jaimee brings a female perspective to the role, which led her to volunteer with the South Australian Ambulance Service (SAAS) at Kapunda six years ago.
“I always loved being the female at the road crashes (providing) a bit of dignity for female patients; they’d get me to hold up sheets and just basic stuff like that to help out,” says Jaimee. “So, when I found out you could volunteer with SAAS I looked into it and signed up and fell in love with it.”
At a time when volunteers can be hard to find, Jaimee says the support and team camaraderie is second to none.
“For me, the rewards definitely outweigh everything else…when you depend on each other’s lives sometimes, those relationships you don’t just find anywhere else,” she says. “We’re a big family here.”
Bruce rewarded for productivity
Bruce Hancock is a man of the land in every sense of the word.
From dusty sheep yards to commercial supermarket chains, our Citizen of the Year has provided 40 years of exceptional service to SA’s agricultural industry.
The Nuriootpa resident has added significant value to the Australian lamb supply chain, and helped hundreds of students gain a foothold in the sector.
“Once they get into agriculture, they find it very inspiring, extremely welcoming and very rewarding, but the little piece that’s been missing is getting them connected into agriculture,” says Bruce.
“Mentors are extremely important to help young people to develop their skills, their capability and their confidence, to project who they are, and for them to find a place in industry.”
Now retired, Bruce is equally passionate about service to his local community. He’s proudly served 30 years as a member of Angaston Agricultural Bureau, seeing it as “another way of connecting people to agriculture.”
“Volunteering, I think it just comes natural. It’s just a part of our family ethos and it’s about rolling up your sleeves and working together for the greater good,” says Bruce.
Lyn and Geoff give a helping hand
Lyn and Geoff Hansen like to serve up a hearty helping of generosity with every meal.
As volunteers of Kiwanis Barossa Valley, the Nuriootpa couple fills a gap, supplying simple, nutritious meals to Barossa families and children in need.
“We went to the first meeting and they were friendly, welcoming, and serving the children of the world and that just struck at our heart and we kept going,” says Geoff.
The couple has cooked around 4000 emergency relief meals in the past year, earning them our Award for Active Citizenship.
They say the privilege of serving others is all theirs.
“We’ve had such lovely responses from the people who get these meals. They’re absolutely excited they’ve got a hot meal,” says Lyn.
“Just the smiles and the look in their eyes when they get these meals is just amazing…that’s what keeps you going,” adds Geoff.
Stars glitter on stage
The Barossa shone bright when a constellation of local stars took centre stage in the name of charity.
Community Event of the Year ‘Stars of Barossa’ saw nine contestants “dance off” at a gala event inspired by the popular TV show, Dancing with the Stars.
Event organiser Charmaine Reimann says the Barossa community raised a staggering $54,000 for Barossa Area Fundraisers for Cancer and the Cancer Council of SA.
“I just realised how many people, not only in our community but everywhere, have been affected by cancer, whether it’s themselves or family and friends,” says Charmaine.
“We’re certainly a generous area. I was just so proud of the amount of money we raised…and being able to get the community together and get them behind the event.”
Charmaine is planning a bigger and better event in 2025, supporting the Barossa branch of Make-A-Wish Australia, and is calling for sponsors to get involved.
“Besides making so much money for the charity, people just like to get dressed up and having the Stars involved makes for a fun night out!”
Find the full stories at barossa.sa.gov.au