Sydney Outer West Blue Mountains 2014 VOYA
October 7th, 2014
Overall Winner – 2014 Volunteer of the Year – Sydney Outer West/Blue Mountains region
Kevin Robinson of Baulkham Hills Little Wings Limited (Westmead).
The Hon Stuart Ayres MP (left) & Kevin Robinson (right)
Little Wings brings children in rural and regional NSW to the specialised oncology services available at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Kevin founded Little Wings to help children with cancer while they are undergoing treatment, by providing a free flight service to and from The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Kevin saw a need for this service so started it up himself. Little Wings aims to lessen the travel fatigue, financial burden, emotional strain and length of separation from their families that these children experience. In the past 12 months, Little Wings has provided 206 flights helping 490 people from regional and rural NSW. Kevin does all the administration, finances, organises transport and liaises with the hospitals.
2014 Student Volunteer of the Year
Winner: Basim Shamaon of Bossley Park The Lions Club, Fairfield, and other organisations.
Basim is an enthusiastic volunteer who loves to contribute to the community since arriving in Australia from war-torn Iraq in 2005. His contributions as a volunteer with more than 20 organisations reflect his selfless nature as he continually looks for opportunities to support people through volunteering. His contributions are numerous and include vising local nursing homes, working with youth at the St Vincent de Paul Society, Fairfield Meals on Wheels, the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal and as Secretary of the Fairfield Lions Club.
No photo available
2014 Youth Volunteer of the Year
Winner: Thamir Shamaon of Bossley Park Fairfield City Council & other organisations.
Thamir started volunteering when he was 11 years old and is committed to helping others. For the past three years, Thamir has been a volunteer with Fairfield City Council. He helps organise the annual youth Bring it on! Festival which involves Thamir co-ordinating 100 young volunteers. He also helps organise the Cabramatta Moon Festival, and is a member of Fairfield City Council?s Youth Advisory Committee as well as the Fairfield City Council Environmental Community Group. Thamir is a tireless contributor to a wide range of community activities.
No photo available
2014 Adult Volunteer of the Year
Winner: Kevin Robinson of Baulkham Hills Little Wings Limited (Westmead)
Please see Overall Winner for description.
2014 Senior Volunteer of the Year
Winner: Doreen Kinsella of Leura Blue Mountains Meals on Wheels
Tania Davies MP (left) & Doreen Kinsella (right)
Doreen has been working with Meals on Wheels for 30 years. She give so much of her time and will go back to deliver the meal if someone was not home for the delivery, or just to have a chat with her clients. Her regular clients love her and she feels the same way about them. Her ability to have a chat and take an interest in clients’ lives often makes their day. Rain, hail or shine, Doreen can be relied on to deliver.
2014 Volunteer Team of the Year
Winner: English 4 Living team, Mt Druitt Ethnic Communities Agency (MECA)
Chris & Kath with Ed-Husic (left)
English 4 Living is an English language and mentoring program for migrants and refugees living in Mount Druitt and surrounding areas. The program focuses on people who have slipped through the cracks and missed out on English language training, so as a result are finding it difficult to integrate into the community. The focus is on language skills to help navigate everyday living such as renting a house, buying groceries, using a bank and applying for a job. Lack of language skills is known to lead to poor health outcomes and the dedication of the volunteers in the English 4 Living team allows MECA to deliver programs that benefit some of the most disadvantaged people in the community. The work the English 4 Living class does is essential for improving the lives of clients and their families.
Honour Roll of Nominees
2014 Student Volunteer of the Year
- Harmony Jones of Glenmore Park who volunteers with Ultimate Fighting Arts.
- Jamie Lawson of Oakhurst who volunteers with Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Australia.
2014 Youth Volunteer of the Year
- Kiran Kaur of Quakers Hill who volunteers with Parramatta Mission.
2014 Adult Volunteer of the Year
- Bernadette Haynes of Claremont Meadows who volunteers with NSW Department of Education and Communities: Cambridge Park Public School.
- Maree Jeffs of Penrith who volunteers with First South Penrith Scouts.
2014 Senior Volunteer of the Year
- Anne Rickwood of Katoomba who volunteers with Blue Mountains Wild-plant Rescue Service.
- Senka Svrznjak of Springwood who volunteers with the Salvation Army store in Springwood.