Of the many generous faces to grace the Bathurst community, Genevieve [Gen] Croaker has been making a difference to the lives of the less fortunate for over five decades.
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Having lived in Bathurst her whole life, Ms Croaker has been involved with numerous community groups over the years, making it her mission to offer support to patients with cancer as well as those in aged care.
Ms Croaker was named the 2019 Bathurst Citizen of the Year for her outstanding community outreach efforts and her commitment to people in need of vital support.
The honour of being Bathurst's Citizen of the Year is something that Ms Croaker reflects on with a great deal of humility.
"I never look to be singled out and rewarded for the work that I do," she said.
"Giving back to the community is what volunteering is all about, and when there are people in need, the right thing to do is to reach out."
Ms Croaker's long history with community involvement began back in 1968 when she became a member of the Ladies Auxiliary volunteer group at St Vincent's Private Hospital, which closed in 2010.
Today, the organisation is known as the St Vincent's Community Nursing Auxiliary, and operates under the umbrella of Catholic Healthcare.
To this day, Ms Croaker is still an active member of the organisation.
"I first started volunteering at St Vincent's when my parents were of ill health in the hospital," Ms Croaker said.
"My family had been associated with the hospital for many years, and it was where my interest in volunteering began."
As a member of the St Vincent's Community Nursing Auxiliary, Ms Croaker has held all executive positions [president, secretary and treasurer] at various points throughout the years.
In 2016, Ms Croaker was named Catholic Healthcare Volunteer of the Year for her outstanding outreach efforts.
Ms Croaker eventually extended her volunteer work to palliative care, and became a member of the Bathurst Voluntary Palliative Care Group in 1990.
The group was amalgamated into Daffodil Cottage's volunteer base when the site opened in 1996.
"We look after cancer patients who come in for consultations with oncology specialists," Ms Croaker said.
"As they come in for treatment, we sit with them and help them retrieve their blood tests and any pharmaceuticals needed for their treatment."
Ms Croaker is currently the president of Can Assist Bathurst, a position she has held since 2013.
Can Assist Bathurst is an organisation that raises funds to provide financial assistance for patients who are undergoing cancer treatment.
"We help patients source their necessary anitbiotics and provide assistance with household bills."
"Can Assist is totally reliant on community support as far as fundraising goes, and we do not receive any assistance from the three levels of government."
Ms Croaker also helped establish the Bathurst Regional Cancer Support Group in 2008, and has been arranging flowers for events at the Cathedral of St Michael and St John for over 20 years.
She was also inducted as one of the original 200 Bathurst Living Legends in 2015.
According to Ms Croaker, looking after your fellow person is what community is all about.
"To me, community is about promoting the union of people irrespective of religious, social and cultural background," she said.
"Some people often experience extreme bouts of loneliness, and that's why it's very important to reach out and start conversations with those in dire need of support."
