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Sydney South 2014 VOYA

Volunteer Awards

October 16th, 2014

Overall Winner – 2014 Volunteer of the Year Sydney South

Marie Gai Oberlander of Sans Souci.

Marie Gai volunteers for a number of organisations including Dress for Success- Sydney, Meals on Wheels and Look Good Feel Better- Cancer Patients Foundation, as well as being a highly committed Grandmother! She has a genuine love of people and her warm personality, as well as attitude to help wherever she is needed, makes her an adored member of the community. She is a quiet achiever whose work, no matter how small, brightens the lives of those around her.

2014 Student Volunteer of the Year

Winner: Jennifer Armstrong of Grays Point who volunteers with Dandelion Support Network.

Jennifer Armstrong

Jen built upon the services already offered by Dandelion and added another dimension in the process by widening their network. She established ‘The Beauty Bank’, which collects new personal care, bath and beauty products and packages them ready for women/men/families in need. Jen’s coordination of The Beauty Bank ensures that all packages are prepared so that they can be presented as a gift. She takes great care and pride in all her work and the impact it has on the recipients is truly humbling. Jen has shown incredible generosity in the face of adversity and is truly an inspirationional.

2014 Youth Volunteer of the Year

Winner: Vanessa Kutcher of Blackhurst who volunteers with the Miranda Magpies Netball Club.

Vanessa Kutcher

Vanessa is currenlty the Acting Umpire Convenor for the Miranda Magpies as well as a UNICEF Australia Young Ambassador for 2013-14, an advocate for human rights and a Co-chairperson and Member of the Sutherland Shire Youth Council in 2013. In her role as Umpire Convenor she organises umpires for 70 casino sites games a week, as well as being on hand to reslove any issues that may arise in game days. Last year she combined her role as assistent Umpire Convenor and UNICEF Ambassador by orgniasing a ‘Goal for Kids Day’, securing doantions for every goal scored for UNICEF. Vanessa is dedicated an innovative member of the community, which shines through in everything she does.

2014 Adult Volunteer of the Year

Winner: Darryl Morris of South Hurstville who volunteers with The Wilderness Society.

Daryl Morris

Daryl ‘Daz’ Morris is an integral part of the Wilderness Society in Sydney. He manages volunteers, organises campaign and action logistics, builds props, designs and paints banners, does public awareness talks, administration duties and manages relations with key stakeholders. He is a much loved member of his community and often goes above and beyond for a good cause, whether it be at the wilderness society, in his local community, in NSW or across Australia.

2014 Senior Volunteer of the Year

Winner: Marie Gai Oberlander of Sans Souci.

Marie Gai Oberlander

2014 Volunteer Team of the Year

Winner: Jignesha Waghela and the thirteen volunteers who make up the Form Filling Team from St George Migrant Resource centre in Rockdale.

Form Filling Team

Settlement in Australia for migrants can be a confusing and challenging experience, as finding suitable employment and building new social and support networks has many barriers, that can result with long periods of isolation and loneliness. The Form Filling Team provide assistance to people who require support to complete government forms and documents. All team members are bi-lingual, providing community support in specific languages to improve community members access to government and community services, which they can find difficult to utilise due to language and cultural barriers. This allows clients to gain the appropriate and proper support they require will decreasing the isolation and loneliness they may feel.

Honour Roll of Nominees2014 Student Volunteer of the Year

Renee Gillespie of South Hurstville who volunteers with Blakehurst Aged Care.
Andrew DeMayo of Oatley who volunteers with Recreation Sports and Aquatics Club.

2014 Adult Volunteer of the Year

Sogna Carlucci of Penshurst who volunteers in the St Declan’s Primary School Penshurst Canteen.
Joanne Cavallin of Werombi who volunteers with St Patrick’s College.
Theonie Dogias of Peakhurst who volunteers with 3 Bridges Community in Carss Park.
Jennifer Gibson of Menai who volunteers with Menai Community Services.
David Gordon of Miranda who volunteers with RSPCA NSW.
Nick Kapetanellis of Kogarah Bay who volunteers with 3Bridges Community.
Leila Khoury of Blakehurst who volunteers with Kogarah Community Services Inc.
Marie Linton of Rockdale who volunteers with Frederick St Kindergarten.
Margaret Lloyd of Engadine who volunteers with Sylvanvale.
Mercelita Manual of Ingleburn who volunteers with Macarthur Diversity Services Initiative.
Darryl Morris of South Hurstville who volunteers with The Wilderness Society.
Wendy Squirrell of Wilton who volunteers with Quota International of Macarthur Inc.
Michelle Towns of Helensburgh who volunteers with Cancer Council NSW.
Alison Underwood of Gymea Bay who volunteers with Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

2014 Senior Volunteer of the Year

David Lawless of Kogarah Bay who volunteers with Carss Park Community Garden.
John McDonald of Kogarah Bay who volunteers with St. George Easy Care Gardening.
Paul Moore of Loftus who volunteers with Alzheimer’s Australia NSW, Southern Sydney Office.

2014 Volunteer Team of the Year

Debbie Crosby and the ten volunteers who make up the Dementia Day Group team from 3 Bridges Community in Carss Park.
Theo Koke and the seventy volunteers who make up the Meals on Wheels Sutherland Team from Sutherland Food Services Meals on Wheels in Taren Point.
Suzi Lowe and the twenty six volunteers who make up the Shopping & Social Outings Team from Keystone Community Solutions in Carss Park.
Robyn Middleton and the twenty two volunteers who make up The Hub Knitting Project Team from the Hub Community Centre in Caringbah.
Warren Searles and the 145 volunteers who make up the Shire Live Sutherland & City team from Sylvavale in Sutherland.