Honour Roll listing for Wig Wam volunteer

Ms Diana Akers of Woy Woy has been included on the NSW Department of Primary Industries Hidden Treasures Honour Roll.

For the past eight years, Ms Akers has been dedicating up to 16 hours per week as a volunteer at the Central Coast Wig Library, also known as Wig Wam, a service provided by the Central Coast Local Health District.

Member for Gosford, Ms Kathy Smith, has congratulated Ms Akers for her hard work and dedication following her nomination earlier in 2016.

Ms Smith said she recently became aware of the service and was extremely impressed with Ms Aker's caring nature and attention to detail.

"Diana Akers thoroughly deserves recognition and should be extremely proud in joining this role of highly-regarded rural women," Ms Smith said.

"We have so many people doing a great deal to make our community a better place in many different ways and it is extremely important that this work does not go unrecognised," she said.

Ms Akers is one of 90 women recognised on this year's Honour Roll for the valuable work they do across NSW.

It has been eight years since Diana retired from paid work but she has continued to give her time to people who need the wig service, said Ms Smith.

According to Ms Akers' profile in the Honour Role, after leaving school, she worked as a hairdresser in Queensland for 18 years.

She then returned to Sydney, her city of birth before moving to the Central Coast to start a family.

Diana worked in a range of jobs and industries before her health forced her to retire.

"When Diana knew that retirement was fast approaching, she saw an ad in the local newspaper for the Central Coast Cancer Wig Library which was looking for volunteers and she thought she would give it a go," her Honour Role profile said.

"Wig Wam is funded by donations from individuals and community groups.

"Each year approximately 160 women experiencing hair loss as a result of cancer treatment are provided with wigs, hairpieces, turbans and scarves and given expert advice and support on how to wear them.

"It takes about an hour to fit the wigs and, if people come in before they lose their hair, the service can give them support through the process.

"Diana currently dedicates up to 16 hours each week to this fantastic service and says that she loves seeing someone leaving looking happy and confident after they have been fitted with a wig," according to the Honour Roll.

Media release, 7 Nov 2016

Kathy Smith, Member for Gosford

Website, 8 Nov 2016

Hidden Treasures, NSW Department of Primary Industries