Ms Hinton said volunteering was a great way to know you could make a positive difference in someone's life - particularly right now amid the coronavirus pandemic.

She first fell into volunteering 42 years ago when her younger brother wanted to start scouting and the scouts needed a leader. Her father put his hand up and brought her along to help.

Roles with scouts took Ms Hinton across Australia and, one year, in a trip to a sister city in Japan.

It was the value in helping others that stuck, Ms Hinton remained strongly involved in volunteer roles and this seemed the perfect way to settle into Ballarat life when she moved here 18 years ago.

This has included guided tours for the National Trust of Mooramong estate in Skipton, home to former Hollywood silent film star Claire Mackinnon.

A lot of Ms Hinton's volunteer work in Ballarat has also been in helping the community's most vulnerable.

Most volunteer-run programs across Ballarat have been suspended but Ms Hinton has been calling about friends and offering help to those who need some shopping done.

You could usually find Ms Hinton in Uniting Ballarat's Light Lounge op-shop or events from pancake fundraisers and sausage sizzles to open gardens and the huge book fairs. The last biannual book fair in March raised $10,000 for Uniting Ballarat's homelessness support programs but the November event remains in doubt.

Life is different right now, but Ms Hinton encouraged people to think of ways they could still help other people and organisations as restrictions were lifted.

"Volunteering is a good way to meet people and to get to know your neighbourhood," Ms Hinton said. "...Giving back also helps your own self-esteem."

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Uniting Victoria and Tasmania has 2500 volunteers in essential community care services, including crisis hotline Lifeline and Breezeway meals program in Ballarat.

Uniting Ballarat region general manager Annette Kelly-Egerton said volunteers were desperately needed during the pandemic to help with emergency relief services and meals.

Ms Kelly-Egerton said volunteers, sharing skills and passion, made it possible to deliver support and services to the community's most vulnerable people.

To help, visit: unitingvictas.org.au/get-involved/

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