Sydney North 2014 VOYA

 Overall Winner – 2014 Volunteer of the Year Sydney North region

Jack Bennett of Fairlight Sailability NSW Inc – Manly Branch.

Gemma Rygate (left) & Jack Bennett (right)

Jack is a fifteen-year-old Manly Selective High School student. He is a dedicated volunteer who builds a great rapport with Sailability NSW participants. He always goes that extra mile to sure those he takes sailing are happy, confident and safe. Jack’s personality, as well as ability to overcome any obstacles that arise from the participant’s disability, ensure that those he sails with have and enjoyable, exciting experience.

2014 Student Volunteer of the Year

Winner: Jack Bennett of Fairlight Sailability NSW Inc.- Manly Branch.

Please see Overall Winner for description.

2014 Youth Volunteer of the Year

Winner: Roshni Joseph of Strathfield Royal Rehab, Ryde.

Roshni Joseph

Roshni has been volunteering for the past year with Royal Rehab, Ryde. She supports the speech pathology team in providing tailored therapy programs to maximise clients’ communication abilities. She is dedicated to supporting one of Royal Rehab’s residents in particular, whose name is Paul. Roshni helps build residents communication skills and opportunities. The assistance she provides has immensely improved the confidence of Paul and other residents.

2014 Adult Volunteer of the Year

Winner: Dinah Beeston of Neutral Bay Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Taronga Zoo.

Gemma Rygate (left), Dinah Beeston (centre) & Valerie Hoogstad (right)

Dinah?s dedication as a volunteer at Taronga Zoo for the past nine years has seen her take on a number of roles including Events Organiser, Volunteer Coordinator, Committee Member, Office Administrator and Public Educator. Dinah is an exceptional asset to the team. She is highly focused and creates innovative ways to continually improve programs and processes at the zoo.

2014 Senior Volunteer of the Year

Winner: Carol Gardner of Belrose Volunteer – Laryngectomee Association of NSW.

Gemma Rygate (left), Carol Gardner (centre) & Valerie Hoogstad (right)

Carol is the Secretary, Treasurer and Welfare Officer of the Laryngectomee Association which supports people who have had their larynx removed. Her second bedroom is now the association’s office. Carol is unpaid and uncomplaining of her workload, always cheerful, empathetic and supportive of members’ needs or problems. Essentially she is the heart of the association and it would not function without her.

2014 Volunteer Team of the Year

Winner: Sydney Metro SurfCom Team, Surf Life Saving NSW – Belrose Represented by Andrew Crow and 55 volunteers.

SurfCom is a technological and communication system, established in 2013, which provides communications coverage to all patrolled beaches in NSW -which stretch across 1,990 kilometres of coastline. The team, which comprises 55 operators, delivered approximately 3,500 volunteer hours during the lifesaving season. The team communicates with emergency services agencies such as Police, Ambulance, fire authorities and rescue services to coordinate Surf Life Saving Club resources during emergency incidents. It also provides key planning information on weather, warnings and tides to help keep the community safe.

Honour Roll of Nominees

2014 Student Volunteer of the Year

• Jack Bennett of Fairlight who Volunteers with Sailability NSW Inc.- Manly Branch.
• Jennie Sung of West Ryde who Volunteers with Cerebral Palsy Alliance.

2014 Youth Volunteer of the Year

• Andrew Storrs of Chatswood who Volunteers with Lane Cove & North Side Community Services.
• Alex Andrews of Cromer Heights who Volunteers with Alex Aide.
• Roshni Joseph of Strathfield who Volunteers with Royal Rehab.

2014 Adult Volunteer of the Year

• Dinah Beeston of Neutral Bay who Volunteers with Taronga Conservation Society Australia – Taronga Zoo.
• Annette Bowman of Milsons Point who Volunteers with NSW Police.
• Florence Caruette of Queenscliffe who Volunteers with Manly Warringah Pittwater Community Aid Service Inc.
• Andrew Cross of Nth Narrabeen who Volunteers with Surf Life Saving (primarily at South Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club).
• Anne Cummings of Kirribilli who Volunteers with The Charitable Foundation for Books in Homes Australia.
• Ray Fanning of Belrose who Volunteers with Manly Warringah Football (Soccer) Association Lts.
• Ian Gearey of Beaconsfield who Volunteers with Fighting Chance Australia.
• Chris Griffin of St Ives who Volunteers with House with No Steps.
• Yulia Guerchenzon of Rosehill who Volunteers with Primary Ethics.
• Margaret Herbert of Kellyville who Volunteers with Royal Rehab.
• Anne Jackson of Freshwater who Volunteers with Taronga Conservation Society Australia – Taronga Zoo.
• Adam Kent of Cromer who Volunteers with Long Reef SLSC & Cromer Kingfishers Junior Rugby League.
• Jeanette McKay of Cherrybrook who Volunteers with Taronga Conservation Society Australia – Taronga Zoo.
• Peter Mead of Dee Why who Volunteers with Manly Warringah Pittwater Community Aid Service Inc.
• Elizabeth Mendel of Dee Why who Volunteers with Bear Cottage.
• David Murray of North Curl Curl who Volunteers with Surf Life Saving Sydney Northern Beaches.
• Ann Palmer of Eastwood who Volunteers with Christian Community Aid Services Inc.
• Noel Patterson of Sefton who Volunteers with Starlight Children’s Foundation.
• Sophie Rothery of Mosman who Volunteers with Cerebral Palsy Alliance.
• Rebecca Tupper who Volunteers with Lifeline Australia Tricia Vermuyten of Mount Colah who Volunteers with Cancer Council NSW.
• Ching-Yi Wu of Marsfield who Volunteers with Taronga Conservation Society Australia – Taronga Zoo.
• Diem Yong of Bella Vista who Volunteers with Royal Rehab.

2014 Senior Volunteer of the Year

• Pam Burgess of North Ryde who Volunteers with Christian Community Aid Services Inc.
• Deirdre Clear of Eastwood who Volunteers with Christian Community Aid Services Inc.
• Tony Davis of Allambie Heights who Volunteers with Easy Transport Manly Warringah Pittwater.
• Gillian Eagles of LaneCove who Volunteers with North Shore Horse and Pony Association.
• Maurine Edwards of West Ryde who Volunteers with Royal Rehab.
• Carol Gardner of Belrose who Volunteers with Laryngectomee Association of NSW.
• Norah Gardner of Melrose who Volunteers with Christian Community Aid Services Inc.
• Richard Hughes of Narrabeen who Volunteers with Manly Warringah Pittwater Community Aid Service Inc.
• John Hunter of Dee Why who Volunteers with Easy Transport Manly Warringah Pittwater.
• Cathy Hurditch of Belrose who Volunteers with Curl Curl Sports Netball Club.
• Joan Johnson of Killara who Volunteers with Mater Hospital.
• Richard Latimer of Eastwood who Volunteers with Christian Community Aid Services Inc.
• Janice Lee of Wentworth Point who Volunteers with Hunters Hill Ryde Community Services.
• Michael Liddle of Chatswood who Volunteers with Asylum Seekers Centre.
• Robyn Lovie of Pennant Hills who Volunteers with Taronga Conservation Society Australia – Taronga Zoo.
• Joan McKay of Riverview who Volunteers with Lane Cove & North Side Community Services.
• Marie Josephe Monique Orian of Ryde who Volunteers with Relationships Australia, Community Builders.
• Barry Parsons of Eastwood who Volunteers with Christian Community Aid Services Inc.
• Ralph Schubert of Sydney who Volunteers with Various, including Liberal Party, Davidson SEC.
• Jo-Ann Steeves of Bilgola Plateau who Volunteers with Northern Beaches Palliative Care – Hammond Care.
• Margaret Sutton of Frenchs Forrest who Volunteers with Leukaemia Foundation.
• Anne Swift of Cromer who Volunteers with Spilstead Centre at Dalwood Children’s Home.
• Peter Walker of Bexley who Volunteers with Taronga Conservation Society Australia – Taronga Zoo.
• Bill Ward of Kellyville who Volunteers with Easy Care Gardening Inc.
• John Whiteman of Dee Why who Volunteers with a range of organisations around Manly.

2014 Volunteer Team of the Year

• Noelene Campbell and the twenty volunteers who make up the MOSAIC English Learning Program Team from MOSAIC Multicultural Centre in Chatswood.
• Kevin Collison and the two hundred and twenty volunteers who make up the Lane Cove & North Side Community Services Volunteers team from Lane Cove & North Side Community Services in Lane Cove.
• Andrew Crow and the fifty five volunteers who make up the Sydney Metro SurfCom Team from Surf Life Saving New South Wales in Belrose.
• Robin Hall and the two volunteers who make up the Meals on Wheels team from Hunters Hill Ryde Community Services in Sydney.
• Ken Halliday and the eighteen volunteers who make up the Boccia Volunteers team from Cerebral Palsy Alliance in Allambie Heights.
• Joanne Hill and the volunteers who make up the Cancer Council Information Centre Volunteers, Sydney Adventist Hospital team.
• Naomi Ireland and the two volunteers who make up the Jan and Margaret Creche team from St. Matthews Anglican Church in Sydney.
• Janette Lomas and the forty nine volunteers who make up the Achieve Australia Unique Social Enterprise: Fabric Needlecraft and More team from Achieve Australia in North Ryde.
• Ann Smith and the eleven volunteers who make up the Dee Why Community Hub Volunteers team from Community Connect Northern Beaches in Dee Why.