Volunteerism a way of life for Scott's Bay's Huntley

BY PAT MARTIN

Volunteering is not just a pastime for Scott’s Bay resident Gwendolyn (Gwen) Huntley; it’s a way of life.

During the Kings County council session held March 4 in Kentville, councillor Madonna Spinazola presided over the county’s nominating committee that announced Huntley as the undisputed candidate chosen for this year’s 2008 Volunteer of the Year award.

Huntley will receive a special plaque April 1from Warden Fred Whalen at the council chambers. All other community nominees will receive certificates of appreciation at that time.

Huntley will also represent Kings County at a ceremony and luncheon to be held in Halifax April 24 in recognition of volunteers across the province.

“There were 12 other nominees from one end of the county to the other and there were some very impressive people,” noted Kings County councillor Jim Taylor. “She did well and I’m glad that someone from that part of the district was recognized. It’s a good little community.”

WI submitted the nomination

The Scott’s Bay Women’s Institute submitted the nomination that led to the honour, and they pointed out the numerous volunteer contributions that Huntley has made in her community.

Taylor also added he knew about Huntley’s participation with the Institute and people in need in the community and that she was there for them. He also knew she has done a lot of work in her community.

A certain criteria must be met to qualify, Taylor said. First, someone from his or her community must nominate a suitable candidate. The nomination would include a write-up describing just exactly what the candidate does in their community.

Then, if anyone on the committee knows of other reasons the candidate should be chosen, that too will be taken into consideration.

The committee short-lists the nomination list down to five. Then the nominating committee takes those five candidates and chooses just one.

“There were some excellent names put forward for sure,” Taylor said. “It wasn’t necessarily a cakewalk, but I just think she’s worthy and we all agreed on that. By the time we finished our deliberations, it was a unanimous decision.”

Great honour to represent Kings County

Huntley’s altruistic compassion that compels her to put other’s needs before her own has made her the ideal choice to represent the County of Kings as Volunteer of the Year for 2008.

“I was surprised when I won and very pleased,” Huntley says. “I think it’s a great honour to represent Kings County. I would like to thank the Women’s Institute members and a special thanks to Mary Kidston, who wrote the nomination letter. I would also like to thank the nominating committee.”

Huntley began volunteering in her teen years, singing at various church functions with her brother James (Jim) and then with other family members. Soon after she became president of the local young people’s church group.

Her passion to help others continued as she trained to become a registered nurse. While in training, she volunteered to be editor of their yearbook. After dedicating nearly 40 years to her profession at the local hospital and occasionally comforting others while traveling in ambulances and providing home care for a few seniors in her community, she retired in 2002.

Huntley is a mother of three and grandmother of seven with no signs of slowing down. Time spent volunteering and helping others is a never-ending fulfillment.

Huntley has been active in politics, providing assistance during campaigns. For a number of years she was a Poll Captain for the Kings North Liberal Association and has canvassed door-to-door for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Cancer Society.

She’s an active member of the Scott’s Bay Union Church and has served as trustee, treasurer, elder and cemetery trustee, and is currently the Sunday school superintendent. She helps with the annual Daily Vacation Bible School and has also coordinated three Sunday school plays.

Endless list of duties

Huntley is and has been for quite some time the president of the Ladies’ Auxiliary and the Scott’s Bay Women’s Institute and performs an endless list of duties such as organizing bridal showers, anniversary and birthday parties, and funeral receptions when held in the Bay.

As the Women’s Institute president, she’s a strong advocate when it comes to fundraising to maintain the Seaside Centre, the former two-room South School #81 that was built in 1856. Information and photos are gathered for the annual historical calendars and she periodically submits information and photographs for the Remember When history books written by Pat Martin with proceeds to the Women’s Institute building fund. The upcoming history book has been dedicated to Huntley for her help in preserving Scott’s Bay history.

Huntley also coordinates the annual Bay Day/Canada Day festivities and has been instrumental in obtaining yearly grants for that event.

She’s also dynamic with the distribution of cheer baskets for local shut-ins and those in nursing homes at Christmas, and organizes, fundraises and submits applications for government grants to help those in need, such as the recent grant that will allow a local amputee to have a much-needed wheelchair ramp. And all, of course, for no pay.

“We need volunteers and they’re getting harder to find,” Taylor said. “All volunteers, in my opinion, should really be recognized for the time they put into community work and so on, because I really don’t know where a lot of these communities would be without the volunteer spirit.”