Volunteers in the Narromine Shire attended a special morning tea in the council chambers on November 28, acknowledging the important contributions by volunteers to the community.

Mayor Ewen Jones opened the event with a minute's silence to remember volunteers lost over the past year, and then thanked those present for their efforts.

"Your dedication keeps our community connected, resilient and thriving. We're grateful for everything you do," Cr Jones said.

"Across our shire you give your time, your skills and your hearts to make this community stronger. Your contributions are felt everywhere."

The mayor also acknowledged the support of volunteers' partners and families behind the scenes.

Representatives from the Narromine Men's Shed, Lions Club, Hospital Auxiliary, Narromine Aviation Museum, Meals on Wheels, Country Women's Association, and the 25 Club attended the event.

Attendees spoke of the difficulties of carrying on their volunteer work as volunteer numbers drop.

Hospital Auxiliary treasurer Julie Davis said she had written thank you letters to three organisations that had donated but were now closed, with a fourth on the brink of the same fate.

"It really saddened me when I wrote these letters of thank you and gratitude, and it's a shame that we don't have anybody else coming in to take the reins," she said.

The challenges for working parents to volunteer around caring responsibilities was identified as a barrier to participation, and general reluctance to get involved in committees with governance activities and formal roles. Government red tape and the many hoops volunteers have to jump through to meet mandatory child and community safety obligations, such as Working With Children Checks and police checks were cited as other barriers to participation.

Attendees agreed more should be done to engage young people - particularly high school students - to become involved in volunteering and support their community, and that governments could do more to make it easier for people to volunteer.