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Behind the scenes

After watching her daughters dance in the Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod, Dianne Jacobson volunteered to help out. That was 40 years ago. Since then, she hasn’t stopped.

 

Despite what her husband would tell you, Dianne Jacobson does a lot more with her time than attend afternoon teas with friends. As the convener and treasurer of the City of Wagga Eisteddfod, she spends most of her days ensuring the smooth running of Wagga’s biannual performance competitions. “I’ve been with the Eisteddfod nearly 40 years, and dance convener most of that time,” Dianne says. On Australia Day this year, Dianne’s years of service were recognised with the Wagga Wagga Citizen of the Year Award.

Giving a hand

Dianne first got involved in the Wagga Wagga Eisteddfod through her daughters, who were competing at the time. “They asked me to help with the afternoon tea. The rest is history,” Dianne says. “I just love it. It’s the friendships, the people you meet along the way. We don’t get paid, we’re all volunteers. You just get so much out of the friendships that you make with people over the years.” Dianne’s proud of the connections she’s been able to nurture through the Eisteddfod.

“I’ve got generations coming. I know the mum, the grandmum, and now I’ve got the granddaughter. It’s just amazing,” she says. But none of it would be possible without other volunteers. “I’ve got some very good helpers, and my right-hand-lady, Mandy, she’s just excellent. We get on so well, we go on holidays together, we’re like family. You need someone like that.”

The show must go on

Dianne had planned to move on from the Eisteddfod at the turn of the millennium, but decided to stick around. “I’m hoping to get to the 100th eisteddfod, and then I’m hoping to retire after that,” she says. “Given good health and everything; we’ll have to see what happens.”

Until then, Dianne says the Wagga Wagga Garden City Probus Club is the perfect way to relax with friends. “It’s just lovely to go to something and just walk in and walk out and not have any worries,” she says. “I’m just so glad I joined. There’s a lot of couples. In fact I’ve got six of them coming tomorrow for afternoon tea.” Her husband might not be too far from the truth after all.