At this time of year, as gift-giving season looms large, many find themselves asking the same question: what do you get the person who has everything?
Shepparton Canoe Club star volunteer Julie Keillor would be one to whom this query applies, having already been recognised for her unrelenting efforts to aid water-dwellers in town.
Keillor has climbed the accolade ranks quite quickly in recent times, first achieving a state award for her service from governing body Paddle Victoria.
Naturally, she progressed and ultimately claimed the corresponding award on the national stage as Volunteer of the Year through Paddle Australia.
Now, she sits on the precipice of the ultimate thank you — freshly nominated for the Australian Institute of Sport’s Volunteer of the Year award.
Keillor is up against all volunteers across all sporting and recreational disciplines nationwide ahead of December’s awards night.
While it’s safe to say she has the pedigree to back her nomination up, she’s often felt like something of an impostor on the big stage.
“Being Paddle Victoria Volunteer of the Year blew me out of the water; it’s such a humbling experience,” Keillor said.
“I know so many people who give so much to their community, but for someone to nominate me for what I do with the all-abilities side was just amazing.
“After the Paddle Australia one, people like Anna Meares called me over to congratulate me.
“I’m just little old me, combining my love of paddling and caring for people of all abilities.”
It’s a caper she’s given more than a decade of her time to, bringing anyone and everyone into the aquatic realm safely.
Like any new life experience, the approach is best served with a sprinkling of baby steps which, all told, result in exuberant enjoyment of a newfound pastime before long.
“It was incredible to have the chance to advocate for people with all abilities and that they can achieve in different areas,” Keillor said.
“I sometimes put them into ankle-deep water and rock the boat slightly to show them that they won’t tip.
“I promise people that if we get 5m off the shore and they’re not comfortable, we’ll go straight back, but I haven’t had a fail yet.
“That’s really where you start building successes from. I had three all-abilities paddlers last year, and so far this year, I’ve had 28 give it a go.
“We’re really fortunate in Shepparton to have a safe facility with the lake.”
It’s an honour which, if bestowed, would proudly sit at the pinnacle of Keillor’s achievements from an external standpoint.
Of course, for the woman at the centre of it all, her impact is hardly measured in accolades.
“It would be absolutely amazing (to win it),” Keillor said.
“I’m not a person who likes to put myself out there much, but I just enjoy what I do and to be recognised that way would be incredible. Just getting the honour of being invited is.
“Often if someone tells me ‘good job’, I’ll say something like, ‘Yeah, but I could have done this or that better’.
“To be recognised as a worthy recipient takes a lot for me personally.
“Some people have done 20 or 30 years of work and it’s amazing to be linked with them.”