When Lismore’s Sheliya Van Buggenum decided to get a cochlear implant five years ago, it was the beginning of her journey into helping others.

Last week, Sheliya, 65, received a Northern Rivers Adult Volunteer of the Year award at a ceremony in Lismore, along with other locals recognised for their volunteer contributions to our communities.

“I was born with no hearing in my right ear and then had lots of infections in my left ear - leading to more hearing loss,” she said.

“I was struggling with my hearing. I couldn’t hear my phone, or the car indicators, or the microwave sounds - and finally to try a cochlear implant in my right ear.

 “It was a scary decision to make – to have someone operate on your ear - and I put it off for two years.

“But I decided I had nothing to lose and it was the best thing I ever did.

“Now I feel more connected to the world than I would be without it.”

As a result of her struggles when she first got her impant, Sheliya decided to voluntarily start a support group for others struggling with hearing loss and implants.

“I didn’t take well to my implant and there was no support group here, so I wanted to start one.

“I wanted to tell people it’s not so scary – that if they are struggling, the results of having an implant are mostly good and they can overcome the problems. 

Sheliya organises and runs Cicada - a kids peer support group for people looking to get cochlear implants and their family members.

“We answer their questions and give them advice,” she said. 

Then four years ago, the Sydney Cochlear Implant group, who work with the Lismore branch of the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children contacted her and asked Sheliya if she could do auditory training with new implant recipients.

“I help people after they receive their implants and support them to adjust to their new hearing, including learning or re-learning language skills and helping with digital aids.”

Sheliya said when she received the news that she had won a volunteer award, she was shocked.

“I burst into tears, I was so shocked - I never win anything,” she laughed.

Sheliya said she intends to keep volunteering and loves her work. 

The other recipient of a NSW 2019 Volunteer of the Year Award recipients for the Northern Rivers region was Senior Volunteer of the Year, Robert Grasby, from Coraki Golf Club. 

Robert also won the overall Northern Rivers 2019 Volunteer of the Year category for his work in almost single-handedly keepng the Coraki Golf Club operating through his volunteer work on the greens.

Bob’s volunteer work has ensured the club survived difficult financial times and now thrives with better facilities and a growing membership.

The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards is an annual program run by The Centre for Volunteering and has grown to become one of the largest celebrations of volunteering across the country.

Regional finalists for the awards are announced at 21 ceremonies throughout NSW and are invited to the Gala State Ceremony in Sydney to celebrate the overall NSW Volunteer of the Year.

The Centre for Volunteering chief executive Gemma Rygate said volunteers from across the region had given so much to the local community.

“Your volunteers build connections for people in towns and communities across the region,” Ms Rygate said.

“They help to build such positive experiences and links to services across health, education and community sectors. Our ceremony today recognises their work and gives us the chance to say thank you.”