Willetton resident Lucy Mandycwesky’s affinity for Rottnest Island has not waned over 25 years.
Since joining the Rottnest Voluntary Guides Association in 1991 she has taken thousands of people across the island sharing her deep knowledge of its ecology and environment.
She has also trained hundreds of new guides and was recognised for her volunteering efforts at the recent WA Volunteer Service Awards.
Ms Mandycwesky, 67, said she loved Rottnest so much she jumped at the chance to work there.
“It’s a place I’ve always loved, I’d gone with my son and husband for years before I became a guide,” she said.
“When the opportunity to become a guide came up I took it.
“I really wanted to be able to tell people how to look after Rottnest and tell people how to use it to the best of their ability for future generations.
“In those days it was much more of an environmental group but now we do lots of things.
“As well as just running tours we help with the painting on Rottnest or odd jobs that need to be done.
“At the moment I’m involved with a herbarium, we are collecting plants found on Rottnest so we’re looking at sustainably for the future as well.”
Ms Mandycwesky said she loved volunteering now just as much as she did when she started.
“I love it, for me it’s about excitement, enthusiasm and a love of the island,” she said.
“Being able to train new guides is fantastic because the essence is to retain that enthusiasm and love for what we do, if it wasn’t for that I wouldn’t still be a volunteer.
“I think you have to pass on that love of what you do and what you cherish about your job to others.”
She said Rottnest could not operate without the work of volunteers.
“We are so entrenched now, the number of volunteers we have on Rottnest at the moment is 280,” she said.
“There are 10 volunteers on the island every single day, if you think about what we do it would cost too much to try to have paid people to do that sort of thing.”
She said she was proud to have been recognised for her 25 years of volunteering.
Seniors and Volunteering Minister Paul Miles commended Ms Mandycwesky’s work as well as the other 52 award winners who also clocked up 25 years.
“Without volunteers some organisations simply would not be able to provide services needed to support some of our most vulnerable citizens,” he said.
“I hope this recognition goes some way to showing our gratitude for the service given over many years.”
More than 800 volunteers have received the award since it was launched in 2011.
Research conducted in 2014 by the Department of Local Government and Communities and Volunteering WA showed about 80 per cent of West Australians volunteered over the course of a year.
