Congratulations to July’s ESNZ Volunteer of the Month, George Gale from ESNZ Dressage Marlborough!
Nelson’s George Gale is a young man with a big personality and reputation for reliability. He has fast become a familiar face amongst show organising committees as he travels the country with his mum Anna. George likes to be busy so kicking round the truck all day does not suit him at all. At the January 2020 WVEC Taranaki Champs the OC appointed him assistant to Celine Filbee and he was duly sent off to track down the “lady with the dreds”. He ran messages, delivered presentation rugs, collected test sheets, put up and took down banners and was there at the last gasp taking down arenas. Celine was so impressed with his efforts she offered this glowing report on her time spent with George.
“This little guy is a pleasure to hang out with, chatty, polite, engaged, hard-working. He follows instructions and completes tasks, certainly a cut above your average nine-year-old!”
Anna tells us that he helps out with the “blue jobs” – the menial tasks around the yard at home. He did have a small pony but when he grew out of it she struggled to find a suitable replacement for him. He now has a small motorbike which he roars around on, likes a bit of rugby and is very handy with a cricket bat.
Feedback from other events has also been very complimentary. Wendy Jeffery from Wairarapa said: “George was like a little energiser bunny over the weekend. As well as helping with arenas and running, he was always in the office asking us for more jobs. He didn’t mind what it was, from heading off to find someone for us, to refreshing the display of complimentary salt licks – nothing was a problem and everything was done with a smile!”
Michael Wells, chief in charge of collecting test sheets at Christchurch NEC was thrilled to have George on his team. “George did a great job. He was helpful, polite, he stuck with the job, helping for quite a long time and I think is the only young boy that has ever come and helped me collect papers, so well deserved thanks to him.”
George was also the recipient of this month’s AllinFlex Volunteer prize.
Thank you George for being so helpful, willing and a shining example for other young volunteers – we need more of you!
Our sport is in safe hands with George and our other wonderful volunteers like him, so next time you are so lucky to be on the receiving end of our volunteers’ generosity, please take a moment to thank them. And if you are young like George, follow his example and help out at the next show!
ESNZ Volunteer of the Month receives a gift in recognition of their contribution; George’s is on its way to him.
You can nominate your ESNZ Volunteer of the Month by emailing us at [email protected] with Volunteer of the Month in the subject line.
Please provide this information along with a photo of your nominee:
Who are you nominating?
From what discipline?
From what area?
Why are you nominating them?
Your name
Your contact phone number and email