An Adelaide Hills man who has spent decades helping people in crisis and protecting his local community has been recognised with South Australia’s highest honour for an individual volunteer.
Keith Clark, of Aldgate, received the Joy Noble Medal at the 2026 SA Volunteer Awards during a ceremony at Government House on Monday, recognised for his long-standing commitment to both Lifeline and the Country Fire Service.
Clark has volunteered with the Aldgate CFS for 32 years and has spent more than 11 years as a Lifeline crisis supporter, helping thousands of South Australians during some of their most vulnerable moments.
Originally from England, Clark emigrated to Australia in 1989 and built a life in the Adelaide Hills, where volunteering became a defining part of his contribution to the community.
“I visited in ‘83 after the Ash Wednesday fires and I heard the story about these wonderful people in yellow that volunteered and it didn’t really compute with me, coming from England and I made a promise to myself ever I emigrated and got accepted to Australia my pay back would be that I would join this wonderful band of people,” Clark told ARN’s Adam and Jennie.
That promise led to more than three decades with the Aldgate brigade, where Clark has played a role in emergency responses, leadership and community preparedness across the region.
Years later, Clark took on another demanding volunteer role as a crisis support worker with Lifeline, sparked by a tragedy within the CFS community.
“What took me to Lifeline was actually connected to CFS because a number of years ago one … our first female Lieutenant – she took her own life and I remember standing at her funeral saying to myself that one day I’ve got to get involved in this mental health stuff because this is the loss of an unnecessary life so that was actually what took me to Lifeline 11 or 12 years ago,” he said.
Across thousands of hours on the phones, Clark has provided calm, compassionate and non-judgemental support to people in crisis, while also mentoring new Lifeline volunteers as a student mentor.
Clark said volunteering had been both challenging and deeply rewarding.
“It is a two way street, you give – you give – you give, but you do receive… you’re giving to your community to make it what it is today,” he said.
“I don’t think people realise the amount of volunteering going on in our communities, without it communities would collapse.”
Outside of his emergency and crisis support work, Clark is also involved in Walking Football Adelaide Hills, helping deliver inclusive, low-impact indoor soccer for mature adults and people with disabilities across the region.
The program currently runs teams in Mount Barker and Tailem Bend, with organisers also seeking expressions of interest for a future Murray Bridge team.
The SA Volunteer Awards, established in 2005, coincide with National Volunteer Week, running from the 18th to the 24th of May.
South Australia is home to almost 960,000 volunteers, contributing an estimated $36 billion in social and economic value each year – equivalent to 223 million hours of service.
Hear Keith Clark’s interview with ARN’s Adam and Jennie via SoundCloud.
For help in a crisis, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
