THERE are many people in the Katherine region who do not hesitate to go the extra mile to make a difference to the lives of their friends, families and the community they live in.
Those people are often quiet achievers who do not get the recognition they deserve. To celebrate quiet achievers in the region the Katherine Times - with the support of Nitmiluk Tours - proudly presents this week’s Community Hero.
RISING with the sun and whiling away weekend hours scouring the streets, parks and riverbanks for rubbish is not many people’s idea of an enjoyable pastime.
Dubbed the Katherine “rubbish warrior”, Jenny Duggan thinks nothing of taking time out from her daily life in the business world to help make Katherine a tidier and healthier town.
A regular frontrunner at local clean-up and fundraising events, Jenny completes her work with no resentment or con-
descension.
She tirelessly returns to the banks of the Katherine River to pick up seemingly endless trails of “green cans”, bottles and general waste.
Rather than dwell on the unsafe and sometimes thankless work, Jenny shifts her attitude to welcome a chance to exercise in the fresh air while doing something worthwhile.
Since she began collecting cans in 2005 as part of a Scouts drive, Jenny has built her stockpile to heights she can hardly begin to measure without trawling through piles of paperwork.
In one period of nine months, she collected 626 kilograms, and in two months alone, gathered almost 5300 cans under the Cash for Containers initiative.
While many have jumped on the scheme’s money-spinning bandwagon, Jenny has a different philosophy.
“The cans came from the community, so the money should go back into the community,” the humble woman says.
She donated her return of $500 to the local Shave for a Cure drive and the YMCA Swimathon.
And in her spare time the bubbly community hero lightens her spirits by doing more good for the community, including bringing women together for the Beefsteak and Burgundy Club.
Every week the Community Hero celebrated in the Katherine Times receives at $50 Nitmiluk Gorge meal voucher.
NOMINATE a quiet achiever and receive a $15 Nitmiluk Gorge meal voucher if your nominee features as the next Community Hero.
Email the name and a brief description of your hero’s achievements (and a photo if you have one) to
editor.kathtimes@ruralpress.com or ring the Katherine Times on 8972 1111.