Riverina Volunteers Shine with Health Help

Volunteers from Lake Wyangan, Griffith and Wagga Wagga were recognised for their outstanding contribution at the 10th Annual Volunteer of the Year Awards in Wagga Wagga today.

The top award went to Peter Robert Mogliotti of Griffith who was awarded both the overall 2016 Riverina Volunteer of the Year Award and the Senior Volunteer of the Year Award for his work with the Bupa Griffith Nursing Home.

Chief Executive Officer of The Centre for Volunteering, Gemma Rygate, said volunteers improve people’s lives by helping out, keeping people connected and creating a sense of belonging in communities.

“This year The Centre for Volunteering received a record number of nominations: More than 7,500 nominations acknowledging more than 100,000 volunteers – a record number since the awards began 10 years ago,” Ms Rygate said.

“Volunteering is in the DNA of Australians: In NSW more than 2.3 million people volunteer – if volunteering were an industry it would employ more people than any other sector including mining and tourism,” Ms Rygate said.

Apart from his practical help at the home which includes driving the community bus and running the monthly BBQ, Mr Mogliotti also connects emotionally with the residents at an individual level, Ms Rygate said.

“Not only does Mr Mogliotti sometimes bring his grandchildren on his visits to the home – much to the delight of many older residents – he takes residents shopping for personal items, encourages them to socialise at happy hour and will visit gentlemen in their rooms if they are reluctant to get out,” Ms Rygate said.

“Mr Mogliotti shows genuine care and is thoroughly deserving of this award.”

The Winners of the 2016 Riverina NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are:

The Minister responsible for volunteering, John Ajaka, said the awards are an important way of recognising the vibrant contribution individual volunteers make towards strengthening communities across NSW.

“Our incredible volunteers make NSW the beautiful and rewarding place it is to live and work,” Mr Ajaka said.

“Central to volunteer satisfaction is meaningful recognition of the vital and diverse contribution of volunteers.”

Twenty regional Volunteer of the Year Award ceremonies are being held around the state.

All regional winners will be in the running for the overall NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards, which are announced at a gala event in Sydney on Friday December 2, in the lead up to International Volunteer Day.

The Volunteer of the Year Awards are generously supported by principal partners the NSW Department of Family and Community Services, and ClubsNSW, the industry body which represents the states 1400 not-for-profit clubs, as well as Bupa Aged Care.

For images from the ceremony visit the photo gallery.

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 October where nominees are recognised with certificates and winners announced.

Regional winners will be entered into the overall State 2016 Volunteer of the Year.