2017 Mid North Coast Region Volunteer of the Year Award
August 21st, 2017
Volunteers from the Mid North Coast region were recognised for their outstanding contribution at the Annual Volunteer of the Year Awards in Port Macquarie today.
The top award went to Meg Cameron, of Port Macquarie, who received both the Adult and the overall 2017 Mid North Coast Region Volunteer of the Year Award, for her work with Cerebral Palsy Alliance.
“In her volunteering Meg embraces everyone – using her skills to work with clients in the pool, taking care of siblings to free-up parents to attend their children’s sessions or simply ensuring that all who come to the Centre feel welcome there,” said Gemma Rygate, the CEO of The Centre for Volunteering.
“The Volunteer of the Year Awards recognise the nation working hard at a grassroots level to deliver resilient and compassionate communities,” Ms Rygate said.
“This year there has been a record number of nominations for the Volunteer of the Year Awards, with almost 110,000 volunteers recognised across all categories.”
“Volunteering is a mutual gift, delivering rewards to both the giver and the receiver. Volunteering contributes $290 billion to Australia?s economic and social good,” Ms Rygate said.
Overall Winner?Volunteer of the Year
Meg Cameron?
Youth Volunteer of the Year
(up to 24 years) Hayley King
Adult Volunteer of the Year
(25 ? 64 years) Meg Cameron
Senior Volunteer of the Year
(65+ years) Evan Cunningham
Volunteer Team of the Year Lifeline Mid Coast Telephone Crisis Support Training Team
The Minister responsible for volunteering, Ray Williams, said the awards are an important opportunity to celebrate the contribution of local volunteers.
“The efforts of volunteers here today have, no doubt, greatly improved the lives of Mid North Coast region residents. The NSW Government acknowledges and thanks all volunteers for their valuable contributions and commitment to creating inclusive communities.”
“People who volunteer are often happier, healthier and more connected to their communities,” Mr Williams said.
ClubsNSW CEO Anthony Ball said the club industry was pleased to be Principal Corporate Partner of the 11th Annual Volunteer of the Year Awards. On behalf of 1300 member clubs, ClubsNSW recognises and acknowledges the valuable efforts of the 2.4 million volunteers in NSW.
“Clubs across NSW generate over 40,000 volunteers in the club industry who dedicate more than a million hours of their time per year- we are incredibly grateful for their enormous contribution in building and strengthening our local communities.”
Twenty regional Volunteer of the Year Award ceremonies are held around NSW.
All regional winners are in the running for the overall NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards, which will be announced at a gala event in Sydney in December.
The Volunteer of the Year Awards are generously supported by principal partners, the NSW Department of Family and Community Services, and ClubsNSW. Other sponsors are Bupa Aged Care and Thrifty Car Rentals.
The event photos can be found at here.
BACKGROUND
The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards is an annual program run by The Centre for Volunteering to recognise the outstanding work of volunteers in every region across NSW. Twenty award ceremonies are held across NSW from August to September where nominees are recognised with certificates and winners announced.
Regional winners are entered into the final of the Volunteer of the Year, 2017.