Outstanding Northern Beaches volunteers heading to 2019 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards final

Volunteers from across the Northern Beaches were today recognised for their outstanding contribution to volunteering at a special ceremony in Dee Why. 

The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards is an annual program run by The Centre for Volunteering which has grown to become one of the largest celebrations of volunteering across the country.

Regional finalists for the Awards are announced at 21 ceremonies throughout NSW and are invited to the Gala State Ceremony in Sydney for the announcement of the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards.

The 2019 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award recipients for the Northern Beaches are:

The Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate said volunteers from across the Peninsula had given so much to the local community.

“Your volunteers build connections for people in communities across the region,” Ms Rygate said.

“They help to build such positive experiences and links to services across health, education and community sectors. Our ceremony today recognises their work and allows us to say thank you.”

Twenty-two year-old Hannah Chadwick has been volunteering for more than a decade. She began helping in the hydrotherapy pool at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance and has continued her work there helping at fundraising events, supporting children at the respite house and on day trips.

She now volunteers for numerous other organisations, like the Manly Surf Life Saving Club, Wild Women on Top and many others.

Hannah is not only a very deserving recipient of the 2019 NSW Young Volunteer of the Year for the region but also the Northern Beaches 2019 NSW Volunteer of the Year.

The Northern Beaches 2019 Adult Volunteer of the Year, Martin Hayward has dedicated 600 patrol hours at the South Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club over the past decade. Additionally, Martin has supported the Club’s Bush Indigenous Program, assisted with fundraising to redevelop the Clubhouse and facilities, amongst numerous other programs.

The 2019 NSW Senior Volunteer of the Year for the region is Ian Lovelace, who has provided hundreds of hours of volunteer support for children at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance. Ian is also a volunteer driver at Kaddy Transport, helping to transport young children living with a disability.

The 134 team members of the Bear Cottage volunteer team provide support for so many young children with serious illnesses. They provide more than 10,000 hours of volunteer support each year helping with cooking meals, reading and entertaining children, cleaning and housekeeping, and many more activities.

Their amazing dedication and support over 18 years has earned them the 2019 NSW Volunteer Team of the Year for the Northern Beaches region.

Photos from the event can be viewed and downloaded here.

The 2019 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are supported by principal partners the Department of Family and Community Services NSW and ClubsNSW, which represents the state’s 1,400 not-for-profit clubs.

Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said volunteers made an enormous contribution to local communities.

“A vibrant volunteering sector leads to healthy and strong communities,” Mr Ward said.

“In NSW, volunteers contribute more than $5 billion to the economy each year and their social contribution is even greater. The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are a fitting way to say thank you.”

ClubsNSW CEO Anthony Ball said that volunteers were the backbone of licensed clubs across the state, so it was a natural fit for the industry to support such an important program.

“The calibre of our local volunteers never ceases to amaze me, and I’m proud to represent an industry in which around 32,000 volunteers help to make clubs such great places,” Mr Ball said.

“I congratulate all the volunteers who were recognised at today’s ceremony for their dedication and commitment.”