Volunteers Week earlier this month offered the chance for people to thank volunteers for their fantastic effort over the years.
Without people giving up their free time, many of the Stewartry’s groups would struggle or even go out of existence.
Stewartry RFC’s John Low, above, was recently named Tennent’s Volunteer of the Month for his work with the club. To mark Volunteers Week, we asked people in Dalbeattie why they feel it’s important to volunteer.
At the Preloved charity shop, which raises money for Dalbeattie Community Initiative, Barbara Watts said: “It’s something to do now I’ve retired.
“The money we raise goes to local good causes. Unlike the big charities, here I know where the money is going.
“I’ve been helping out for three or four years. I think there’s 15 or 20 of us.”
In 2009, the team at Dalbeattie Museum received a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – the equivalent of an MBE for groups.
One of the current volunteers, Robert Murray, said: “I retired and it was something to pass the time. It’s the same with us all. I usually come in a couple of days a week. In the winter we come in every Wednesday just to clean things up and polish the brass.
“I’ve been doing it for four years. There’s plenty to see here. We take dogs and all, we had a ferret in the other day.”
Fellow helpers Tommy Elsdon and Jack Wallace also enjoy their time at the museum but say there is a need for more volunteers.
Tommy joked: “We’re pretty young but we want younger ones still. We can’t get up ladders to get into the loft and things like that.
“We’re needing young blood.”
