A giving nature

Dick MacArthur waits for the truck that will take away the beer and wine bottles collected by the Wellington Rotary Club.

Award recognizes extraordinary volunteer service

Dick MacArthur doesn’t consider his volunteer work particularly noteworthy. In fact, he finds its discussion, a bit embarrassing.

“I don’t consider myself special at all,” said MacArthur. “This community might be. There is a tremendous number of volunteers who give their time and energy here. I’m just one of many.”

But Dick’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. Earlier this month, the Wellington resident was among 100 recipients of the Ontario Volunteer Services Award at a ceremony in Belleville.

The awards are presented annually in about 65 communities around the province.

He was nominated for this award by Reg Gemmell, friend and fellow Wellington Rotary Club member.

“I know how much volunteer work he does,” said Gemmell. “He has taken me to SunnybrookHospital at least 12 times in the last two years. He picks people up and takes them to medical appointments in Picton and Belleville, for Community Care for Seniors. He puts a tremendous amount of time at the bottle depot operated by the Wellington Rotary. Furthermore, he has been a blood donor more than 150 times, which is kind of remarkable.”

“Without saying anything, or people noticing, Dick is busy several days a week helping other people,” observed Gemmell.

MacArthur made a circuitous route back to Wellington. His parents were born and raised in the County— his mother in Wellington. But Dick was born in Gananoque. When war broke out and his dad went overseas, his family came back to live with his grandmother. After the war,the family stayed in Wellington for a time, but soon moved on, eventually settling in Welland. Dick, however, spent most summers back in the County.

“I worked in the canneries when I was 11,” recalled MacArthur. “The County has always been more of a home than any place we lived.”

His career was spent managing development and fire safety on CrownLand for the Department of Lands and Forests (now the Ministry of Natural Resources). The job took him across the province. He lived in White River, Wawa, St. Catharines and Coldwater, north of Orillia. He might have stayed in Coldwater, but it became too busy for his liking.

So he and his wife, Gail, moved to Wellington. Home.

With his barrel chest, imposing height and beaming smile, MacArthur is a recognizable figure on Wellington’s Main Street, at the Dukes game or at the bottle depot. Less obvious is the gift he makes of his time and energy.

Why does he do it?

“Because I can,” says MacArthur simply.