92 year old Wagga Wagga Crown Land manager receives award for three decades worth of volunteer services

92-year-old Martha Lamprey, who lives in the picturesque suburb of Gumly Gumly, has been awarded a Crown Lands Service Recognition Award certificate for her remarkable 37 years as a Crown land manager on the board of the Gumly Gumly Recreational Reserve.

Ms Lamprey’s tenure as a volunteer land manager at the reserve began in 1987. Known fondly to locals as the Gumly Oval, the 7-hectare reserve is located about 7 kilometres east of Wagga Wagga’s CBD.

The reserve is used for football and netball matches and its clubhouse is often used for meetings and community events.

Under Ms Lamprey’s stewardship, Gumly Gumly’s reserve has thrived with a new main hall, improved netball facilities and new fencing installed on the reserve. Ms Lamprey has also organised frequent community-run cake stalls to help raise money to maintain the buildings on the reserve.

Ms Lamprey’s family arrived in Gumly Gumly in the early 1920s and were one of the first to settle in the suburb. The family lives on a street named after them, reflecting their long-standing and steadfast contribution to their community.

Ms Lamprey is an active community member and represents many community and sporting boards, including as a foundation member of the East Wagga Kooringal Hawks Football Netball Club.

Ms Lamprey is one of 139 volunteers, representing seven separate regions across NSW, who recently received Crown Lands Service Recognition awards for over three decades of volunteer service to their local communities.

There are over 2,500 volunteers involved in Crown reserve management across the state, freely giving their time, skills and energy for the good of their local communities.

Over the coming months, more long-term Crown land volunteers will receive award certificates for their service. There are over 700 Crown reserves managed by volunteers, whose efforts ensure public assets are taken care of and can be equitably accessed by everyone.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“Crown reserves rely on the dedication and determination of volunteer Crown land managers, who devote their time and energy to ensure public assets are maintained and upgraded for the good of all. I applaud Martha for her steadfast dedication and enthusiasm to give back to Gumly Gumly.

“Crown land plays an important role protecting the environment and supporting communities with everything from green open space, parks and walking tracks to showgrounds, sporting ovals and community halls.”

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty and duty MLC for Wagga said:

“I’d like to congratulate Martha on receiving this award for her hard work and dedication over many decades.
“It is vital we have wonderful volunteers like Martha showing the way forward and guiding the next generations of volunteers as they work to make places like Gumly Gumly wonderful places to live and bring up a family.

Gumly Gumly Recreation Reserve Manager Martha Lamprey said:

“I am very proud of the improvements we have made to our reserve, especially to our main hall and to the netball facilities. We love our sport here in Gumly Gumly, and it’s a great feeling to look out at our oval and feel as if you’ve achieved something.

“I am one of six women on the Gumly Gumly Recreation Reserve, and I know we are all very happy to give back to the community we all love.”