The City of Busselton’s volunteers of the year were awarded at a ceremony as part of celebrations for National Volunteer Week.
To celebrate the achievements and efforts of volunteers in the community, the Busselton Dunsborough Volunteer Centre and City of Busselton hosted the event.
The awards allow an opportunity for the community to show its appreciation of the many hours of devoted community work that volunteers contribute to the city.
Winners included John Martin for 25 years of service with St John’s Ambulance and a highly commended award went to Innes Barker for his work with Geographe Community Landcare Nursery.
Heather Carroll was awarded for her tireless work on the Busselton Senior High School board, school band and helping out at the Dunsborough Primary School canteen.
St Mary’s Anglican Church parish administrator John Morris was awarded senior volunteer of the year for his tireless efforts helping people in need.
Brian Slee was highly commended for his work with the Busselton Historical Society and restoring jetty cranes and trains.
The Rotary tourism and events award went to Charmain Terry for her work on the Busselton Jetty board and the youth volunteer of the year went to Bianca Gervasi for her work with the Busselton Jetty crew.
Volunteers who have made a positive impact in less than three years were the Lions Club’s Rob Withington along with Danae Ploughman who established the Windelemere Reserve Group in Dunsborough.
At the ceremony mayor Grant Henley said a great example of our volunteers in the community were the volunteers at the Old Butter Factory.
Mr Henley said as devastating as the recent fire was, the immediate response from the museum’s volunteers was a great example of volunteers which had impacted positively on the community.
Vasse MLA Libby Mettam said community groups and volunteers in the region is what made this area such a fantastic place to live.
Busselton Dunsborough Volunteer Centre coordinator Carl Holroyd urged people to offer their services to the community and take up the opportunity of volunteering.
Mr Holroyd said the importance of volunteers could not be underestimated with some of our most vital community services, elderly care and transport, health and mental health, rural firefighting services and environmental awareness programs, relied heavily on a volunteer workforce.
More than six million Australian volunteers give their time willingly the community and in WA over 600,000 (four out of five WA residents) volunteers contribute 315,000 hours equating to more than $39 billion to the WA economy.
Mr Holroyd said volunteers were the backbone of communities in cities and towns around WA which shared happiness and enriched our quality of life and social cohesion.
“Volunteers contribute enormously to the health and welfare of our community and these awards will recognise and highlight outstanding achievements and service to the community by nominated individuals,” he said.
Check out this year’s winners in the photo gallery above.
