Pensioner and volunteer farmer Anthony 'Tony' Milburn of East Maitland has been named the Hunter's 2019 Volunteer of the Year for his ongoing efforts to "save" imperfect farm produce so it can be turned into meals for people in need.
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Mr Milburn, 71, said his mission began with what has become known in Maitland as the "Great Pumpkin Rescue" of 2016.
Mr Milburn helps out his friend, farmer Matt Dennis, at his vegetable farm in Morpeth a few days a week. Mr Dennis was considering turning an entire pumpkin crop into fertiliser because it could not be sold.
"We got a bit of rain and the pumpkins had discoloured, and nobody wants them at the markets [in Sydney]," Mr Milburn said. "They've got to be perfect. So Matt was going to plough them in."
The pair visited Amorelle Dempster, the organiser of the Maitland-based not-for-profit organisation Slow Food Hunter Valley, and mentioned the pumpkins in passing.
"She said, 'No, we'll rescue them'. I admit, we were a bit bemused," Mr Milburn said.
"The next minute there were volunteers coming down to the farm and loading up the pumpkins to take them to Maitland mall. We got rid of 20 tonnes in a day, some people came from Newcastle to get them.
"We didn't expect it, everyone supporting us."
The pumpkin sale turned into a farmers market held at The Levee on the first and third Thursdays of the month. And it provoked in Mr Milburn an appreciation of fresh veggies at risk of going to waste.
For the past four years Mr Milburn has collected up to 10 tonnes of produce per year, donated by farmers in the Hunter, which has been turned into 5,000 meals for people in need by Slow Food Hunter Valley's community cooking initiative.
"I collect a bit from here and there, whoever has got it and wants to get rid of it. Then we bring it into Amorelle," he said. "The gratifying part of it is being able to bring food to people who are homeless."
Apart from his farming endeavors, Mr Milburn has served as a member of Kiwanis for over twenty years. Kiwanis is an international charitable organisation that seeks to serve the needs of children worldwide. He also volunteers for Salvation Army Strategic Emergency and Disaster Management.
"When there's floods or fires we go and feed the firies and volunteers and also the people at the evac [evacuation] centres," he said.
The former Telstra worker said it felt "really good" to receive the 2019 award for the Hunter Volunteer of the Year and Senior Volunteer of the Year.
"That's not what we do it for, awards and that. With all the nominees it's quite an honour," he said.
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