Murray Regional Winners
Murray Regional Award Ceremony
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 Minister for Local Government and Mental Health, Mr Paul Lynch presenting the Youth Murray Volunteer of the Year Award to Wendy Brooks, the mother of Luke Brooks who was unable to attend because of HSC exams |
Murray Region Volunteer of the Year
Keith Duggan, of Howlong
Keith moved to Howlong some 19 years ago from Melbourne and immediately contributed to the community through Volunteering. He became involved coaching junior football, a committee member of the Howlong Public School, Social Director of the Howlong Golf Club, a member of the Hume Bridges Committee and actively encouraged the start of the Howlong Community Forum, to ensure the local council had a conduit through which views and debates could be presented.
He became involved with the 20-page monthly community newsletter The Grapevine 19 years ago, became the full-time Volunteer Editor seven years ago, and the paper has now grown to 60-pages/16 colour with a monthly distribution of 650.
His nominator, Ron Wilkins, says: "He has led by example and was the catalyst for the success of his various groups."
Murray Youth Volunteer of the Year
Luke Brooks of Finley
Luke Brooks is School Captain at Finley High School and is currently completing his HSC. Academically and sportingly successful, he has received a number of awards. Luke has been involved since 2004 in a program of respite care for three students with disabilities after school hours. He has followed this up with 185 volunteer hours with service provider Yallambie, Deniliquin. Outside this work, Luke was instrumental in having a skate park built for the local community.
His nominator, Phil Carroll says: "Luke has been a wonderful role model".