2021 Volunteer of the Year Awards recognise local community heroes
Published on 14 October 2021
Frankston City Council has honoured and congratulated the Volunteer of the Year Award recipients for 2021 – announced during an online ceremony this week.
Recipients Glenn Cooper, Andrew Maling, Hannah Swinnerton, Anne Clare and local charity, Local 2 Community, were all acknowledged for their selfless commitment to the Frankston City community.
The online event was attended by Frankston City Mayor Kris Bolam, Council CEO Phil Cantillon, the Federal Member for Dunkley, Peta Murphy, and the State Member for Frankston, Paul Edbrooke MP.
Mayor Bolam said the awards are a wonderful way for Council and community members to acknowledge volunteer contributions.
“Our volunteers give so much of their time, their passion and their dedication to helping others and to making sure our community is the very best it can be. We would be lost without their hard work and selflessness,” the Mayor said.
In Frankston City alone, there are more than 17,000 volunteers who donate more than 2 million hours of their time each year, at an estimated value of more than $90 million to our community.
Mayor Bolam said: “Council is fortunate enough to be home to 436 of these volunteers, who support the delivery of key Council programs, giving 55,808 hours of their own time and contributing $1.4 million worth of value as in-kind support.”
Ms Murphy said: “We thank those terrific individuals and organisations who go above and beyond to support our community, in particular over the past 18 months.”
Mr Edbrooke said: “I am humbled to celebrate our local volunteer champions who have stepped up when our community need them.
“Our community punches well above its weight when people need help and it’s our volunteers who are on the front line so it entirely appropriate that we acknowledge these modest community champions. Congratulations to all our Frankston winners, you thoroughly deserve this award,” Mr Edbrooke said.
Established in 2017, the annual Impact Volunteering Volunteer of the Year Awards aim to celebrate and recognise the valuable contributions that volunteers make to the local community, with an organisation of impact receiving $1,000 to help them carry on their good work. Impact Volunteering is a Frankston City Council program sitting in the Community Strengthening Department.
Mayor Bolam said: “We have seen just how critical volunteers are to community life during this pandemic, which has meant demand for emergency relief services and assistance has grown exponentially.
“We acknowledged and celebrated these outstanding locals, formally recognising the great work they do as a volunteer, as well as creating awareness for the work of their volunteer organisation in the wider community,” the Mayor said.
Meet the 2021 Volunteer of the Year Award recipients for 2021
Service
Glenn Cooper
‘Young People with a Purpose’ – a voice advocating for the youth of our future, was created as part of Glenn’s encouragement to a member of the community who was struggling with the Covid-19 restrictions and felt lonely and isolated from their usual activities they engaged in pre-Covid. With Glenn’s background supporting those battling mental health and disability through his That’s The Thing About Fishing program, he was able to encourage others to reach out and support those in need to find purpose, encouraging them to be a part of a community showing them they are not alone, listening to others who have overcome or are still fighting the battle of mental illness, encouraging the creation of ‘Young People with a Purpose’.
Leadership
Andrew Maling
Andrew is dedicated to get The Pines Men’s Shed on the move and to make sure that it will last for the generations to come. With men's health his main focus of concern; constantly checking up on our members whenever he notices their absence, Andrew has created such a welcoming, caring and supportive space, resulting in more members joining, increasing daily attendance of approximately 24 men – subject to COVID restrictions.
Teamwork
Hannah Swinnerton
Hannah has been a long-time advocate for youth in the local area, with her main concern focusing on the mental health and wellbeing of young people during the extended periods of lockdown and how they can continue to access services when many were not able to travel.
Hannah and a group of friends founded ‘Young People With A Purpose’, a Facebook group providing a safe and supportive space where young people and others that support them can share their stories both the good and the not so good, connecting local service providers and young people to attend public forums and reach out to each other with a very clear message that “You Are Not Alone” (YANA) and that they are part of a community family.
Initiative
Anne Clare
Anne volunteers her time two days per week to pre-screen applicants for organisations and Council departments recruiting volunteers. Anne is passionate and committed to finding the right volunteers for each position and to also making sure each volunteer is matched with a role they are passionate about. Anne gives her all to identifying and creating processes to improve and streamline volunteer service programs. She is passionate about community connection and her resilience and adaptability during COVID’s challenges have strengthened her resolve, confidence and flexibility.
Organisation – Local 2 Community (also receiving the $1000 prize money)
The impact Local 2 Community has had on the Frankston North Community is tremendous. Supporting the local community, offering a foodbank and material aid service has strengthened relationships, identifying members in need, contacting and supporting the most vulnerable residents creating a tight-knit, friendly and caring culture. Committed to continuous innovation and growth, Local 2 Community has increased its services from one day per week to a full five days, with plans in full swing for a cafe run by NDIS participants and a dedicated mentoring space supporting local youth and VCAL projects in the near future.
The $1000 prize money will be used to start a Christmas Donation Fund (2021) for Frankston North families, enabling 75 family food hampers and 75 toy hampers to be distributed and enjoyed by local families in need at Christmas, especially after such a tough year.