Thanks and praise for volunteers from Asquith to Artarmon

The virtual volunteering roadshow rolled in to Sydney’s Upper North Shore today to celebrate kind acts and the spirit of giving for the 2020 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards.

Congratulations to the nominees, all the amazing volunteers and a special mention to our regional award winners; nineteen year-old volunteer paramedic and cadet leader Brooke Allan, the unstopped and innovative emergency and aged care volunteer Christopher Blogg, Mentoring Men founder Ian Westmoreland and the volunteer team from AASHA Australia Foundation.

The 2020 NSW Volunteer of the Year for the Upper North Shore region is the founder of the Mentoring Men service Ian Westmoreland.

2020 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award recipients for the Upper North Shore are:

Young Volunteer of the Year – Brooke Allan from Lindfield

Nineteen year-old volunteer paramedic and cadet leader Brooke Allan has given more than 600 hours with the St John Ambulance Service over the past 12 months – including more than 200 hours providing care for emergency workers during last summer’s devastating fires.

Adult Volunteer of the Year – Christopher Blogg from Cherrybrook

Christopher Blogg began his volunteer career with the Hornsby SES unit more than a decade ago and has since become a flood rescue specialist with the NSW SES who trains and develops community program for emergency volunteers throughout NSW. He also volunteers with Anglicare and has spent the past four years developing the innovative and world leading Beats of Life program that aims to improve the well-being and cognitive development of older Australians in aged care.

Senior Volunteer of the Year – Ian Westmoreland from Asquith

Ian is the founder of Mentoring Men the early intervention service that supports men experiencing isolation, depression or trauma. It links clients with other programs and activities via the personal contact with trained volunteer mentors.

Volunteer Team of the Year – AASHA Australia Foundation Volunteers

AASHA is the word for hope in Sanskrit and its 20 volunteer medicos provide free health checks, transport and other medical and well-being support for elderly people. They focus their support for clients at risk of isolation due to Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Regional finalists for the awards are announced at 25 ceremonies throughout NSW and are invited to the Gala State Ceremony for the announcement of the 2020 NSW Volunteer of the Year.

The 2020 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are supported by principal partners the NSW Department of Communities and Justice and ClubsNSW, which represents the state’s 1,400 not-for-profit clubs.