Category Award - Arts and Heritage
Alison Aitken - Recipient of the Arts and Heritage Category Award
Nominated by Old Parliament House
Alison Aitken has been volunteering in the ACT for over thirty years with a number of community organisations. She has donated her volunteer time to:
- the Australian War Memorial for 17 years, as a voluntary guide. She has served as President and Secretary of the Voluntary Guides Committee at different times.
- Old Parliament House for 15 years, since the time volunteers were first recruited for that role.
- Saint Andrews Church for 10 years, as a volunteer guide on an ad-hoc basis.
- the Parents and Citizens Association at Campbell Primary school, serving as President and Secretary at different times.
Alison has been nominated primarily for her volunteer work at Old Parliament House. She has been a dedicated and model volunteer for many years: reliable, hard-working, highly professional and sensitive to the heritage value of Old Parliament House.
Alison displays flair and finesse in her guided tours of Old Parliament House, offering an interesting mix of personal stories, anecdotes and historical interpretation. She has donated at least 1,600 hours in her position.
In addition to this, she attends regular professional development lectures and other training sessions. She assists with the training of new recruits and is always willing to work extra shifts and help with special events.
Alison has worked successfully to create a strong sense of kinship amongst the volunteer group. She has been a solid support to other guides, undertaking mentoring and offering excellent advice gleaned from her many years of experience.
At 81 years of age, Alison's contribution over the years to each organisation and her reputation among her Voluntary Guide peers have inspired others to follow in her footsteps.