Joy Sharpe has been named Maitland's volunteer of the year

There is no doubt Joy Sharpe is a puppetry queen whose handmade bears delight children with their antics.

They cannot help but love her main puppet, Barnaby the bear, and their eyes brighten in amazement as Mrs Sharpe brings him to life during weekly Pipsqueak sessions at Maitland art gallery. They always gravitate to Barnaby to give him one last hug before they leave.

The ever humble Mrs Sharpe will tell you her efforts aren’t a big deal, but the city disagrees.

She has been formally recognised for her contribution with Maitland’s volunteer of the year award.

She received the honour during an award ceremony last week and now has the 2016 Maitland City Council Volunteer Service award to hang on the wall. 

Her admirers describe her as a dedicated, positive and welcoming person who is always willing to lend a hand. 

She says she’s just doing what she can. 

“I like to see the joy on the childrens’ faces, they are amazed by him, he’s the same size as the children – they are two to five – and they believe he is real,” Mrs Sharpe said.“I dance with him with my feet, he takes the limelight from me.”

Mrs Sharpe made Barnaby out of her mother’s fur coats. He has a range of costumes from a sailor outfit to a pirate ensemble, and he put on his best Christmas attire for the last pipsqueak session of the year last week. 

Before she started helping at the gallery five years ago Mrs Sharpe spent a lot of time putting on puppetry shows for primary school students and play groups.

She also ran a youth group in Largs after securing government funding to make the dream a reality. The group gave young people the change to learn a range of circus skills.

“I taught them how to do juggling, the mini tramp, the minicycle …. It was something different for them,” she said.

Adrian and Janet Boyce received a highly commended certificate for their contribution to the community. They have been avid volunteers at events for the past decade.