Seventeen-year-old Nathan has always been community-spirited — from helping with annual street collections for Save-a-Pet to being a familiar volunteer at the Norm-Hudlin Trails parkrun and the SAAF Museum’s youth volunteer program.
Fondly known as Nate, he is homeschooled and deeply motivated by his passion for making a difference in society, as well as by his belief in treating everyone with humility and respect.
Nate began volunteering at his local parkrun event in January 2022 and has since volunteered on 163 Saturdays — that’s over three years of dedicated service. He consistently arrives early to assist with setup, manage the car park, and lend a hand in various roles throughout the event.
He often administers first aid when needed. On one occasion, an elderly parkrunner fell and broke her collarbone. Nate ran 1.5 km with the first aid kit in hand and immediately applied a bandage and provided support. He has also helped other elderly participants who were unsteady on their feet, always showing kindness and encouragement.
Last year, he shadowed a run director, confidently took on the announcements, and handled the responsibility with aplomb. Nate is especially supportive of young participants at parkrun, always taking the time to speak with them and offer motivation.
Beyond his Saturday mornings at parkrun, Nate volunteers as part of the Young Eagles youth crew at the SAAF Museum. Since December 2023, he has helped restore aircraft, clean exhibits, and guide members of the public through tours — passionately sharing his knowledge about the various aircraft models.
He was recently recognized by the volunteer coordinator for his strong leadership abilities and was nominated as the youth leader. In this role, he mentors and encourages other young volunteers.
