Lifetime Of Service Earns Carol Sanderson Top Volunteer Honour

Carol Sanderson has been recognised with the Lifetime Contribution to Volunteering Award at the 2026 Volunteering North Queensland Volunteer of the Year Awards. Photo source: Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre Inc.

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Carol Sanderson has spent more than half a century giving back to the Hinchinbrook Shire, a lifetime of selfless service recognised in May when she received the Lifetime Contribution to Volunteering Award at Volunteering North Queensland's 2026 Volunteer of the Year Awards.

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Known for her compassion, resilience and unwavering commitment to helping others, Ms Sanderson has become one of the region's most respected volunteers, dedicating decades to supporting local organisations and community causes.

"Building connections and supporting others has always been at the heart of what I do, and that's what continues to motivate me to volunteer after all these years," Ms Sanderson said.

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"I enjoy the company and the opportunity to meet new people, and most of all, I enjoy helping others and relieving some of the stress they may be carrying, even if it's simply by providing a listening ear and a friendly chat."

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As one of the founding members of the Hinchinbrook Community Support Centre, Carol helped establish what has become a vital lifeline for local families and individuals experiencing hardship. Nearly three decades later, at 89 years of age, she still volunteers two days a week, playing an integral role in the Centre's Emergency Relief Program by providing food assistance and practical support to those who need it most.

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Carol's journey into volunteering began in the wake of personal tragedy after losing her husband at a young age. What started as a way to find purpose and healing soon became a lifelong commitment to serving others.

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"Through volunteering, I slowly realised that there are always people facing challenges of their own, [and] seeing others navigate difficult situations helped me feel less alone in my grief," Ms Sanderson reflected.

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"It [volunteering] also gave me a sense of purpose and reminded me that even small acts of kindness can make a difference in someone's life."

Beyond the Support Centre, Carol is an active member of the Lions Club of Ingham, where she assists with fundraising and community initiatives, and a dedicated volunteer with Palliative Care Ingham, supporting and advocating for people receiving end-of-life care. She hopes others will discover the same sense of fulfilment through volunteering.

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"Instead of staying home and doing nothing, get out and volunteer," Ms Sanderson said.

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"There are so many opportunities to make meaningful connections, [and] you never know you might help someone through a difficult time, and they may, in turn, teach you something valuable. Volunteering is rewarding not only for the people you support, but for yourself as well."

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Ms Sanderson's decades of quiet dedication have touched countless lives, leaving an enduring legacy of kindness, compassion and community spirit across the Hinchinbrook Shire.

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