Nominations have opened for the 2020 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards, giving the community the opportunity to nominate selfless locals that have stood tall during drought, bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison MP said the contribution of volunteers had never been so important and National Volunteer Week was the perfect time to say thank you.
“The last 12 months has been extremely challenging for our community,” Ms Aitchison said.
“We’ve had extreme heat and drought; the threat of catastrophic fire and choking smoke; storms that caused flooding and led to a natural disaster declaration; and now the crisis that is COVID-19.
“There is no better time to recognise those local heroes who’ve gone above and beyond, through all our community has endured, to help others.”
The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards, which are run by The Centre for Volunteering, are in their 14th year. They have grown to become one of the largest celebrations of volunteering in Australia.
In 2019 Maitland’s own Anthony Milburn was named the Hunter Volunteer of the Year. Tony, of East Maitland, helped to rescue up to 10 tonnes of fresh farm produce and transport it to Slow Food Hunter Valley, where it was transformed into 5000 meals for people in need throughout the Maitland area.
There are so many others who deserve our thanks as part of these important awards.
You can nominate someone for one of the following seven categories:
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Adult Volunteer of the Year
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Young Volunteer of the Year
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Senior Volunteer of the Year
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Volunteer Team of the Year
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Corporate Volunteer of the Year (Individual)
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Corporate Volunteer of the Year (Team)
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Excellence in Volunteer Management
Maitland volunteers fall into the Hunter region. Finalists from our region will be invited to the State Ceremony at the end of the year, where winners are selected across each category and the NSW Volunteer of Year is announced.
Nominations close on Friday 3 July. For more information or to nomination a volunteer, visit www.volunteering.com.au/awards.
