The humble backbone of the Albany Historical Society was recognised last week for his 25 years of co-ordinating the team that preserve some of the city’s historic gems.

Andrew Eyden was named the 2026 Great Southern’s volunteer of the year at the Albany and Regional Volunteer Services-hosted ceremony at the Albany Entertainment Centre on May 20.

Mr Eyden has served as chief executive of the AHS for about 20 years, having first joined as an attendant at the Old Gaol in 2001.

“I worked down there for probably two years until I actually even knew I was working for the historical society — somehow I thought I was working for the WA Museum,” he said.

“I got involved in night tours with the night tour operator at the time, and they were on the committee and sort of chatted me into joining the committee, and the rest is history.”

His day to day involves managing the two museums under the AHS’s jurisdiction: the Patrick Taylor Cottage and the Old Gaol, as well as organising the collections, records and 71 other volunteers who contribute roughly 22,500 hours per year.

“All of the people working for the society are volunteers,” he said.

“There’s no paid staff, and that includes myself, so nobody gets any type of wage; everybody does it for, for the love of Albany, basically.

“Albany is so important historically to WA, in terms of not only the built history, but also being the first European settlement, and of course, the Menang people and their history as well.”

In terms of accepting the recognition, Mr Eyden said while he was “humbled” and “shocked” to receive the gong, the more important thing was acknowledging the hard work of the volunteers underneath him.

“I dedicate it to all those people who just get on with the job,” he said.

“The work that the volunteers in the community do is just awesome, it’s incredible, really.

“I think most people don’t think about just how much of our community relies on voluntary work, and I’m talking about the historical society, people like (Albany Community) Hospice are incredible as well.

“I’m still inspired by those people every day, because without them, the AHS and many other groups would not exist.

“We could not function without those people, because they are the backbone of everything we are and we do as a city really.”

The other nominees in the Great Southern’s volunteer of the year award were Ebony Sommers (Albany’s Historic Whaling Station), Mike Travers (Green Skills), Julie Wrobel (Albany Roller Derby), Bob Reeby (Albany’s Historic Whaling Station), Christine Sargent (Look Good Feel Better), Sue Roberts (Look Good Feel Better), Joe Gimondo (Albany’s Historic Whaling Station), Rob Harley (Albany’s Historic Whaling Station), Robyn Altus (Albany’s Historic Whaling Station), Jemma Elliott (Albany’s Historic Whaling Station), Chris Smith (Albany’s Historic Whaling Station), Philip Raymond (Albany’s Historic Whaling Station), Trudi Anderson (Albany Entertainment Centre), Sandy Bailey (Albany Entertainment Centre), Karen Burford (Denmark Community Foundation), Stuart Clements (Albany’s Historic Whaling Station), Cor Wals (Albany’s Historic Whaling Station).