Volunteers from across the South Coast and the Southern Inland region have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to volunteering in NSW at a special ceremony in Queanbeyan. The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards is an annual event run by The Centre for Volunteering and is the biggest celebration of volunteering across the country. Di Skelton, Eurobodalla Transport to Treatment Servicefrom Malua Bay has been recognised as an Outstanding volunteer from the South Coast and Southern Inland region honoured at NSW Volunteer of the Year Award ceremony and awarded both the Senior Volunteer of the Year and Overall Regional Winner
The Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate said volunteers from across the region had made an enormous contribution to the local community.
“Volunteers from across the area give their time helping in schools, hospitals, for sporting clubs, the environment, and with so many community based organisations,” Ms Rygate said.
“They all give so much without asking for anything in return.
“It was so pleasing to recognise their outstanding efforts and also celebrate the special contribution of the volunteers chosen to represent the region in November at the State Final of the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards.” "Di Skelton makes an incredible difference to the lives of more than 330 patients and their families undergoing treatment for cancer throughout the South Coast each year. "Di is the Volunteer Transport Coordinator for Eurobodalla Transport to Treatment Services, giving her time every day to make sure that cancer patients have access to transport to and from their treatment services.Di was the Senior Volunteer of the Year and the region’s Overall NSW Volunteer of the Year. The 2018 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are supported by principal partners the Department of Family and Community Services NSW and ClubsNSW, which represents the state’s 1,400 not-for-profit clubs. NSW Minister responsible for Volunteering, the Hon. Ray Williams, said the state’s 2.1 million volunteers contributed more than $5 billion to the NSW economy every year. “Nominating local volunteers for an award or a certificate is a special way of saying thank you,” Mr Williams said. “The fact that so many nominations were received this year is recognition of the amazing effort of volunteers across NSW who help build stronger communities.”
Above: Di Skelton (left) Eurobodalla, Transport to Treatment Service from Malua Bay, Senior Volunteer of the Year and Overall Volunteer of the Year for the region with Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate.
