Every day, they’re out there in our community, quietly lending a hand to help the needy, keep us safe, or make life better for the lonely or vulnerable.
They’re volunteers – Wodonga’s unsung heroes – and now’s the time to thank them.
If you know an individual or group who deserves recognition for their hard work and dedication to making our city an even better place to live, please put their names forward for the 2022 Volunteer Awards in the following categories:
- Bryan Watson Award (Wodonga Individual Volunteer of the Year)
- Wodonga Volunteer Team of the Year Award
- Two Cities One Community Volunteer Award
The winner of the Brian Watson Award will receive a $1000 donation from the Wodonga Belvoir Rotary Club to donate to the recipient’s favourite charity.
Nominations can be made online or by collecting a form from Council’s Customer Service centre in Hovell Street, Hyphen – Wodonga Library Gallery, or the Baranduda or Felltimber community centres.
Wodonga Council Volunteer Co-ordinator Tarryn Firman said volunteering is a chance to connect and socialise.
“It’s a warm meal, knowing your loved one is being checked in on when you can’t visit,” she said.
“It’s dry clothes, a warm blanket when the weather turns cold.
“It’s also finding a sense of belonging, a hug or a reason to see another day.”
Tarryn said the positive flow-on effect of your contribution as a volunteer – no matter how small – has a huge impact that ripples through the hearts within your community.
“The next time you sign into your volunteer role, take a moment to reflect and celebrate how your contribution ripples,” she said.
As part of National Volunteer Week activities, the award winners will be honoured at a night ‘celebrating our stars under the stars’ at Hyphen on Wednesday, May 18.
It will be a gala invitation-only event with ‘after-five’ attire.
The theme for National Volunteer Week this year is ‘better together’ – a perfect description for our volunteers, without whom society would not be the same.
By nominating a volunteer this year, our community will be proving that “kindness is catching”, and also saying thank you to those selfless people who do such for so many.
Nominations close at 5pm on Friday, April 29, 2022.
