While Margaret Finnie shies away from the spotlight, it has been well and truly directed at her this month.
Mrs Finnie has received the Volunteer of the Month award for August.
The award was given to her by Volunteering Mid and South Canterbury, recognising her work behind the scenes at the Hospice Shop in 54 Church St.
She was nominated by shop manager Noeleen Gillson.
‘‘She is extremely resistant to anyone making a fuss about her,’’ Mrs Gillson said.
She said she had only ever been able to slip Mrs Finnie a little cupcake on her birthday ‘‘as long as no-one else is privy to it’’.
While Mrs Finnie avoided attention, she was not one to avoid hard work.
She had been volunteering at the shop for almost nine years.
‘‘In all that time she has remained working tirelessly in the background, cleaning donations.’’
Hospice provided free specialised palliative care and family support to everyone in South Canterbury with a lifelimiting illness.
The shop raised funds to pay for that care.
Mrs Gillson said the contribution Mrs Finnie had made to the organisation was ‘‘immeasurable’’.
She said over the time Mrs Finnie had volunteered, she made pigs’ ears into purses, cleaning all the donations ‘‘from grimy fridges to itty bitty ornaments’’ — she made everything shop-ready.
‘‘She works two full days a week, scrubbing, polishing and washing — sometimes pretty nasty donations — that go from yuck to wow through her magic hands.
‘‘One of the many positive comments we get from customers is how clean our goods are, and that is what Margaret does for us.
‘‘It is a huge asset to us and improves our sales.’’ She said it was the job ‘‘noone else wants’’.
Mrs Gillson said it was not the most remarkable thing about Mrs Finnie.
‘‘What makes her stand apart is that in all the time we have worked together she hasn’t had a cross word with anyone on the team.
‘‘She doesn’t need or want praise or accolades for the incredible work she does.’’
Despite walking to the shop — and sometimes in bad weather — she was there ‘‘twice a week, month after month, year after year’’.
‘‘Margaret is a one-of-a-kind. She does her best to fly under the radar, but ask all who know her and they will tell you she is truly a remarkable lady.’’
