Lord Mayor Encourages Entries for Volunteer of the Year Award

01 Jul 2008

Lord Mayor of Parramatta City Council, Cr Paul Barber, today urged all local not-for-profit organisations to nominate their most dedicated workers for the 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award.

“Without volunteers, Parramatta City Council wouldn’t be able to carry out as much as we do to support the community. From Meals on Wheels to bush conservation to home support, volunteers are the life blood of our services and the wonderful contribution volunteers make to our community should be recognised as often as possible,” the Lord Mayor said.

“These awards are a wonderful opportunity for one of our own volunteers to receive well deserved, State-wide recognition and to be thanked for their generous contribution. Our local volunteers are undoubtedly the backbone of our community,” the Lord Mayor said.

The 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award is building on the success of the inaugural awards held last year. Conducted by the NSW Centre for Volunteering, these attracted 170 nominations and culminated in the announcement of 38 exceptional regional volunteer winners, three state volunteer winners (Corporate, Youth and Senior) and the overall NSW Volunteer of the Year.

NSW Minister for Volunteering Linda Burney launched the 2008 awards during National Volunteer Week which was held last month.

“I am proud the Iemma Government is working with the Centre for Volunteering and providing support for these awards,” Ms Burney said.

“It’s so important that we acknowledge and thank our volunteers for the enormous difference they make to the disadvantaged in our communities and to our precious environment.”

All entrants must be nominated and must have volunteered for the equivalent of one day per week (or 6 hours) for at least 6 months over a 12 month period.

The entries will be judged on a regional basis, with the winners moving forward to the State judging and awards ceremony on Friday 5 December 2008.

Entries close on Tuesday 30 September 2008. Nomination forms and detailed information about the awards can be obtained through The Centre for Volunteering website: www.volunteering.com.au