I WRITE as one of the "unsung" workers that you identified so well in your article, "Hard yards by the unsung," (WT, March 24).

Our little town is full of "unsung".

With a population of only 400 or so, everyone wears at least two hats, yet we manage to support all the usual groups; the Red Cross, Vision Australia, Friends of the RSL, the Lions (currently manning the Drive Revive program on the highway), the seniors club, as well as clubs for gardening and photography.

The Progress Association has a monthly market and a weekly newsletter to its credit, while the ladies of the golf and bowling clubs are always up for catering, and the auxiliaries of the three churches are always busy.

Not to mention the football, cricket and netball clubs, who support, transport, organise, feed, and train our players.

And yes, how familiar we are with the search for the "big name" who will add lustre to your function, bring outsiders into the town and hopefully help you raise a few extra dollars for your special project (and whose fee comes out of those funds).

We have, however, just had a "gourmet afternoon tea" function for our Red Cross unit as a fundraiser, and were so lucky with our " name" - she's a country girl of course, but now a big name on daytime television, she was our compere for the "fashion parade", our drawcard , a simply delightful guest - and she did it for nothing.

Not only was that her gift to our town, she supported our stall and therefore our efforts. It meant so much to us.

And now we are looking forward to the next big event, our photographic show. Luckily no big name is needed to open it.

But the organisation, the chasing after entries, the phone calls and reminders, the publicity, the catalogues and schedules, the hanging of the entries (in the right place/class, please) all need to be done.

Thank you Miranda, for acknowledging the "unsung" - they'll do it all again anyhow, but the pat on the back was great.
And thank you for your column, good sense, good information, entertainment, and it keeps us all in touch with the world outside our door.

Lilla Orton, Skipton

Congratulations Lilla, your letter has won you Iain Hewitson's DVD pack