If volunteering were an Olympic sport, Dungog resident Margaret Flannery would be a gold medallist.
Not only does the retired mother-of-four divide her days between Dungog Anglican Church Op Shop and parish, in the past she has also been a familiar face at Dungog High School, James Theatre, and the Dungog Visitor Information Centre.
She is also the driving force behind the Dungog Tea Party.
In 2024, Margaret was nominated for the NSW Volunteer of the Year Award, and she has previously been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her contributions.
Volunteering is her way of giving back to the community.
“I enjoy helping people. It’s like I tell my scripture children (I teach scripture), if you smile at somebody, it could be the only smile they see today,” she says.
“You can help people in so many ways, it’s not just about helping them find a dress or chatting about a book they’ve chosen or putting the things they’ve bought into a bag for them, it’s about being involved.”
Margaret has been a volunteer for many years.
“I’ve lived in Dungog for more than 50 years,” she says.
“I love the people. I’m passionate about my community and bringing people to the town, about getting involved and staying involved with the local people.”
Margaret is one of a dozen volunteers who donate their time at the Dungog Anglican Church Op Shop on Friday mornings between 9am and 2pm.
The popular Chapman Street site stocks a treasure-trove of bargains including clothing, household goods, books, bric-a-brac and linen.
Visit Dungog Anglican Church’s website for more information or to make an enquiry about the op shop.
For more stories featuring our wonderful volunteers:
Volunteering beyond the school gate
