Four very special volunteers presented with Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medals
By Bruce Fuhr
A little tea with the Queen?
What about a reception for the Fantastic Four of volunteers in the Nelson/Creston riding?
Four of the very best in volunteer from all parts of the riding were special guests of MLA Michelle Mungall during the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal ceremony Sunday at the Hume Hotel in Nelson.
“The medals commemorating the 60th year of our Monarch’s reign are not only once in a lifetime award, but such medals are rare over the course of history,” Mungall told the packed room to honour Nelson’s Joan Reichardt, Shannon Nickisch of Wynndel, Salmo’s Dorothy Hearn, and Bruce Walker of Kaslo.
“Each one of you has made outstanding positive contributions to both your community and your country, and we are all the better for it.”
For Kaslo’s Bruce Walker, the award culminated what has been a wild ride as search and rescue volunteer.
Walker was part of the massive rescue attempt during the summer mudslide at Johnson’s Landing.
“I don’t know if I’ve let is sink in terms of what it means,” Walker said after the medal presentations.
“I’ve certainly been blown away with the number of people that have approached me congratulating on the street. It feels good and it’s definitely an honour but it’s not the reason I volunteer.”
Nelson’s Joan Reichardt couldn’t agree more.
The tireless volunteer and seniors advocate was there in England during her childhood and knows full well what royalty means to the royal watchers.
“This is actually amazing . . . but it’s not why I do what I do,” Reichardt explained.
“I volunteer because I enjoy doing it. I think I’ve got this sort of sense of having a responsibility towards people who are less fortunate than me.”
“I don’t do it because I’m noble I do it because I just enjoy doing it,” she adds.
The commemorative medal was created to mark the 2012 celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada.
The Diamond Jubilee Medal, only 60,000 presented, is a way for Canada to honour Her Majesty for her service to this country while at the same time paying tribute to significant contributions and achievements by Canadians.
Each recipient had their nominators say a few words about the medalists before representatives from the Legion to present the awards joined Mungall.
“Some of these recipients have never been formerly recognized for their amazing service to the community,” said Mungall.
“I am so pleased that people took the time to nominate and vote for these wonderful people, and that we have the opportunity to celebrate their contributions today.”
