Meet our 2024 NSW Volunteer of the Year nominee - the Chatswood ‘Counter Queen’

On Saturday afternoons, Sandra Byak’s friendly smile charms customers at Vinnies Chatswood as they tally up their purchases at the sales counter.

“She’s the ‘Counter Queen’,” says Manoj Kc, the Retail Cluster Manager who recently nominated Sandra for Senior Volunteer of the Year in the 2024 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards. “She is always positive and always smiling and helpful and promoting [Vinnies]”.

Mr. Kc says he nominated Sandra, an 82-year-old Vinnies veteran, to recognise her dedication in over three decades of volunteering at the Chatswood shop. He explains that she never hesitates to come in when they need extra assistance, even when she’s not rostered on. “I had a couple of situations where I had to call her, even though she doesn’t work that day,” he says. “She feels like ‘I need to help them’, that’s her attitude … she’s an absolutely amazing lady.”

Despite having a full family life with four children and nine grandchildren, Sandra faithfully devotes her spare time to helping people in need. Her earlier years of volunteer work included assisting at her children’s school where she would run the tuck shop and lend a hand at school fetes. “I was born Catholic and I always went to church. My Christian duty is to do something for someone else, and so I was always very involved at school,” she explains.

When her youngest son finished up his years as a student, she decided to turn to volunteering for Vinnies and with the local council. “Well I’ve got the energy and I’ve got the time and why not?” says Sandra. “I do like being behind the counter [at Vinnies], you know, greeting people, and sort of helping … they say I’m such a good salesperson!” she smiles.

Sandra’s dedication is also evident in her volunteer work through Willhoughby City Council. Twice a month she provides linen service to assist people in continuing to live independently in their own homes. She also delivers Meals on Wheels twice per week, driving to at least five homes to bring senior residents a nutritious hot meal.

The NSW Volunteer of the Year Award ceremonies are hosted by The Centre for Volunteering and are held annually in 24 locations around the state. Sandra was previously nominated at the North Shore Award Ceremony in 2019 for her work with Meals on Wheels through Willhoughby City Council, and in 2024 her nomination was for her 31 years of service to Vinnies.

Are you interested in volunteering at Vinnies shops? Sign up as a volunteer today.