![Graeme Foale inside the MS Egeria. Picture supplied Graeme Foale inside the MS Egeria. Picture supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/zFAiTDuEg3GdzaaJJ3MGNK/d32893c7-4cd5-4bd9-b55a-6a221d0acbf6_rotated_270.jpg/r0_0_480_640_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Graeme Foale has loved the water and boats since he was a boy. And it's that passion which led to him winning this year's Tasmanian Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award.
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The 70-year-old retiree is a respected member of the Hobart maritime community, having dedicated much of his adult life to serving in voluntary roles in the Navy Reserve, the Royal Hobart Regatta and Lindisfarne Sailing Club.
Graeme currently leads a group of skilled volunteers that maintains and charters the historic vessel ML Egeria, a locally built classic wooden motor launch that has cruised the River Derwent since 1941.
Every year Graeme devotes 350 to 400 hours of volunteering time because he "enjoys making a difference". In the nomination for the award his leadership was described as "truly inspirational" and his contribution as "enabling many others to enjoy time on the water".
Before retiring, Graeme worked with the Tasmanian Police in its human resources department.
His current volunteer role sees him coordinate the team of volunteers who skipper the antique vessel made from Huon pine and teak, and keeping on top of all the maintenance work needed to keep the Egeria in tip-top condition.
"I like the camaraderie of volunteering, working with other people and sharing the few skills I have developed over the years," Graeme said. "We work together really well as a team and it's good to encourage people to become involved."
When he's not volunteering, Graeme loves travelling and particularly visiting his daughter in the UK. He also enjoys sailing with a friend, watching his grandchildren play sport and bushwalking.
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