Annabel Rutherford - A Decade of Dedication

June 2025

When Dunedin's Annabel Rutherford saw the role of a volunteer Board meeting minute taker on the Volunteer South Website she thought “I could do that.”

Retired, she was looking for a volunteer role that would both use and challenge the skills she had gained over a long career in administration roles including 19 years at the University of Otago.

It’s a theme that carries through all her volunteering. She says “I don’t like letting people down so I choose volunteer roles that really work for me and there’s no hassle in doing them. They slot in with my skills and lifestyle so I can commit long term.”

As the board minute taker for Volunteer South Annabel’s contribution means the board members are released from recording everything and can concentrate on the business of governance.

Her other volunteer role is the same, workable and enjoyable.

Every Saturday morning for 10 years, she has been recording a transcript of the Central Otago news for members of the Low Vision New Zealand community to access. This enables them to feel up to date and informed about current issues. She says “It's just half an hour of my time, very easy to do and once again it fits with my volunteer values.”

And if that’s not enough Annabel volunteers for events on an ad hoc basis. This April she enjoyed volunteering as an usher for the Dunedin Arts Festival. “It was a wonderful, well organised event and it was a pleasure to volunteer for that” she says.

A big thank you to Annabel for her inspiring can-do attitude and ongoing commitment to her volunteering.