WITH more than 50 years of experience between them, a trio of residents have been awarded life membership to a long-running Leeton organisation.
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Helen Symes, Dionee Russell and Graham Russell have each been awarded life membership to the Leeton Show Society after giving up countless hours, days and nights over the years to ensure the event not only goes ahead, but runs smoothly as well.
Mrs Symes joined the society more than 25 years ago when her husband when husband Allen was a member of Yanco Lions, selling food from the van outside the arts and crafts Pavilion. She was entering craft items at that time.
Mrs Symes started to attend meetings in 2003, helping in the art and craft pavilion with cleaning and being a steward. She became the handicraft steward by default after Marija Orel finished.
Since then, Mrs Symes has been the steward each year and, in 2014, took on the extra section of jams and preserves.
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She is also the chief steward of the arts and crafts pavilion. Mrs Symers has been a vice president and assisted in the office at times of need.
Although a very tiring job, Mrs Symes said has enjoyed her time on the committee and is looking forward to the 2021 show.
Mr Russell joined the Leeton Show Society in 2005 and has been an active member for the past 17 years.
He served as President in 2010 and 2011 and has also been a steward of either the poultry or the photography section throughout the 17 years he has been a member.
"Graham has been an asset to the Show Society, always helping where he can," the organisation's secretary Janne Skewes said.
Meanwhile, Mrs Russell joined the Show Society in 2009.
She started out by assisting her husband Graham in the poultry section, as well as assisting in the show office.
Mrs Russell took on the role of treasurer in her first year on the committee and served in that difficult and sometimes stressful role until 2019.
She has always been a hard-working member of the committee, according to Mrs Skewes.
"(She is) always assisting where required and giving much-needed advice to members, especially new members, and secretaries," Mrs Skewes said.
"Dionee has been and, will continue to be, a real asset to the show committee, especially around the office."
The 2020 Leeton Show was cancelled due to ongoing concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, but the committee said the event will return bigger and better in 2021.
