Bev Fellows is used to being behind the scenes as one of this community’s most-loved and trusted volunteers, so when the spotlight shone on her at the Zonta Club of Gladstone’s International Women’s Day breakfast where she was honoured as a Living Treasure, she was more than a little embarrassed at the recognition.
“I am thrilled, even though I look at it as I’m so far out of my comfort zone,” she told Gladstone Today.
Bev has been a guiding light and volunteer fixture in clubs and organisations across Gladstone for more than 40 years.
For around 30 of those, she has been on the committee and held the position of treasurer for the Friends of the Theatre.
She is a great supporter of the arts, particularly ballet, and of the annual Gladstone Eisteddfod.
Bev has also volunteered in scouting for more than three decades where she spent much of her time fundraising and being treasurer for the Dolphin Sea Scout Group and the Port Curtis District Scouts.
In recent years, she joined the Rotary Club of Gladstone Sunrise where she is involved in grant writing and fundraising for the various projects that the club supports.
Bev is also a member of the Saiki City committee and has hosted visiting Japanese students.
As well, she is a cruise ship ambassador and volunteer for the Gladstone Harbour Festival.
“My parents volunteered and it was bred into us to help our community,” Bev said.
“I think what free time you’ve got, you volunteer it.
“You don’t do it for rewards, you do it because you want to make the community a better place to live in.
“That’s my opinion.
“I just like being on committees, helping things.
“I do what I can and I can’t do as much as I used to, they forgot to tell us once we got older, things started falling apart and don’t work they used to,” she added with a laugh.
“But I hope I can have a few more years volunteering.”
Bev came with her husband Ian to Gladstone in 1968 and the couple raised three children, all imbued with the same community spirit.
“Gladstone was a very good place, and people used to run it down, but the town was very good to us and put us on our feet,” she said.
“I felt we were lucky to be here.”
While Bev has seen Gladstone’s fortunes ebb and flow as it rode the wave of industry, she praised the constant improvements in liveability and lifestyle in recent times and said the focus on community ensured the city remained family friendly.
“They’re always doing something to make it better and look more attractive and I just think it’s a good place,” she said.
“You couldn’t afford this in Brisbane.”
