For long-time Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) volunteer George Holroyd, helping the community comes naturally.

George was born on April Fool’s Day and grew up in suburban Sydney where he became a talented sprinter. He vividly recalls the pride of being crowned the fastest boy at his primary school sports carnival.

By age 15 he had left school to begin working as an office boy with Australian shipping company Howard Smith. George quickly found his calling in the finance department and a modest start turned into a 40‑year career with Howard Smith.

“There were no spreadsheets back when I first started,” George said. “We just had a pencil and a rubber.”

When his son Wayne joined the local Liverpool City Robins Soccer Club, George quickly got involved in the community.

“I never played soccer but by the time I finished up at the club I had held almost every committee position in the book,” George said.

George played a key role in improving and growing women’s soccer programs in the region. From advocating for women’s matches to be played on higher‑quality fields, to organising local carnivals, George’s impact was profound.

In the early 2000s, George and wife Lorraine made the move to Adelaide, settling in suburban Woodcroft in the city’s south.

“Lorraine and I always said that we’d like to live in Adelaide after we retired, so we did,” George said. “We found a block of land that we liked in Woodcroft, so we bought it and built the home we still live in today.”

But retirement never slowed George. He spent 15 years volunteering with Riding for the Disabled, forming deep bonds with the horses and the children they support.

In 2003, George joined Woodcroft NHW, first delivering newsletters then eventually taking on the responsibility of Area Coordinator - a role he still holds. During his time with Woodcroft NHW, the Woodcroft Christmas Carols has evolved to become a mainstay of the festive season for hundreds of families.

George’s background in finance has also seen him take on the role of treasurer of both Southern District NHW and the NHW Volunteers Association of South Australia Inc Board of Management. A quiet achiever, George goes about his volunteering with a minimum of fuss and certainly without the expectation of anything in return.

“Some people like to have a title but that’s not me,” he said. “I'm the rough and ready George and what you see is what you get.”