For more than 10 years, WA’s volunteers have been recognised through the WA Volunteer Service Awards (the Awards) program, delivered by Communities.
Last year, the Awards were expanded to reflect Western Australia’s contemporary volunteering environment, including the contributions of younger volunteers. There are now seven Award categories:
- 5-9 years of volunteer service
- 10-19 years of volunteer service
- 20-29 years of volunteer service
- 30-39 years of volunteer service
- 40-49 years of volunteer service
- 50-59 years of volunteer service
- Lifetime of volunteer service (60 years or more of volunteer service).
This year, 492 volunteers have been recognised through the Awards program, and received a personalised certificate from the Hon Hannah Beazley MLA, Minister for Volunteering, thanking them for their contributions. Volunteers with 20 or more years of service also received a commemorative pin.
One of the young volunteers acknowledged was 17-year-old Millie Penman, for 11 years of volunteering service. Millie’s volunteering spans across a number of emergency services, and she currently volunteers for Mandurah State Emergency Services (SES). Millie’s volunteering roles have required her to fight fires, save lives using CPR and a defibrillator, and lead emergency response training to teach others life-saving skills. She was also a finalist for the Young Volunteer of the Year Award at last week’s event hosted by Volunteering WA. Millie is an inspiring ambassador for young people.
Twenty exceptional Western Australians were also recognised at the WA Volunteer Service Awards Ceremony today, hosted by Minister Beazley, for contributing 50 years or more voluntary service to organisations including Girl Guides (10 volunteers in the 50+ and Lifetime categories), St John Ambulance, Scouts WA and the Children’s Book Council Australia (CBCA).
96-year-old Coral McLay (pictured) was recognised at the Awards Ceremony for her 72 years of service to Girl Guides WA. Coral started volunteering with Girl Guides WA in the 1950s and is a long-serving member of the Perth Trefoil Guide where she continues to volunteer today.
Mary Gimondo (pictured) has served on the CBCA WA Branch Committee for 50 years. Mary is on the Grants and Regional Centre Committee, applying for and disbursing small grants to metropolitan and regional public libraries to run Children’s Book Week® sessions for schools and the wider community. Mary received the Muriel Barwell Award for Distinguished Service to Children’s Literature and was honoured with Life Membership of CBCA WA in 2008.
For more information on the WA Volunteer Service Awards program, visit the Volunteer Service Awards webpage.
To find your own volunteering opportunity, please visit the Volunteering in Western Australia webpage.
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