Humble helper our Citizen of the Year

PEOPLE like Nancy De Prada are rare, invaluable and to be treasured.

HUMBLED: Whether helping out during Jumpers and Jazz, registering runners the Warwick Pentathlon, supporting young women in netball or working to solve local crimes Nancy De Prada is always happy to lend a hand. She was named the 2019 Southern Downs Citizen of the Year. Picture: Michael Nolan

NANCY De Prada has a simple life philosophy.

"If someone needs help and I can help, then I will help,” she said.

This creed motivates the Warwick woman to volunteer in countless community groups and events throughout the Southern Downs and has secured her title as the 2019 Southern Downs Citizen of the year.

Mrs De Prada was nominated by Cheri O'Neill, vice-president of the Warwick Crime Stoppers group

When preparing the entry, Mrs O'Neill asked every community group Mrs De Prada was involved in to write letters of support.

She was overwhelmed by the positive response.

"Everybody was eager to do whatever they could to have her recognised,” Mrs O'Neill said.

"Nancy is such a hard-working person for whatever she puts her mind to.

"Everything she does, she does with grace and good humour.”

Nancy De Prada,Citizen of the Year

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There is a long list of groups Mrs De Prada helps, from Jumpers and Jazz to Crime Stoppers and the local theatre scene.

She is a founding organiser for the Warwick Pentath-run and a keen supporter of the Warwick Netball Association.

Association secretary Linda Bunch wrote in support of Mrs De Prada's nomination.

"Nancy is so heavily involved in so many things,” she said.

"It's the quantity of her dedication to community groups and events that makes her so deserving for this award.”

"It is certainly a worthy credit where credit is due.”

Despite her friends and colleagues' admiration, Mrs De Prada is a humble woman.

She got word late last Friday afternoon that she had won the award but didn't believe she deserved it.

"I found a letter in the letterbox and I read it all weekend, thinking I was not seeing what I was reading. I thought maybe it was a nomination,” she said.

"I rang the council on Monday and said, 'Is this for real?'.

"That's when it hit home.”

Mrs De Prada has been described as the glue that keeps many community organisations together, but she rejected that characterisation.

"I'm just a peg, I'm one of many,” she said

"It's not one person running these events, you are part of a team.

"I'm very humbled, and grateful that I've received this award, but I still feel unworthy.”

Here are a few of the programs Mrs De Prada is involved in.

Jumpers and Jazz

Every year Mrs De Prada takes two weeks off work to volunteer at the Warwick Art Gallery for Jumpers and Jazz in July.

In the past she has worked in most of the volunteer roles, from staffing the bar at the festival opening party or the information booth in the main street.

"I enjoy Jumpers and Jazz. At the same time, it's not all work,” Mrs De Prada said.

Warwick Netball Association

Mrs De Prada joined up when her daughter wanted to play, about 25 years ago.

In that time she has played, coached and helped run the association.

She is the current president and manages the junior tournament each weekend.

Crime Stoppers

As the secretary of the local Crime Stoppers chapter, Mrs De Prada keeps the group running smoothly and said it serves a vital role.

"We work with the police but we are separate, we work hand-in-hand promoting the group to the public and asking people to report anything they see,” she said.

"People have a feeling like that can talk to us, when they would not go to the police.”

The group runs fundraising events and gathers money to support a professional call centre in Brisbane.

Part of the money goes to a reward program.

Theatre

While most of Mrs De Prada community service is about helping others, the theatre is something she does for herself.

As with netball, her involvement started with her daughter.

"Years and years ago, I was advised by a counsellor that I should get one of my daughters into something like the theatre to help her,” she said.

"She was too young to go by herself so I went along and I've sort of stuck to it.”

Over the years she performed in countless plays and though she can't remember them all, Mrs De Prada does know why she loves it.

"It is nice to get up there, be somebody else and sell it.”