Volunteers the lifeblood of communities

Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has praised the contribution of local volunteers in Parliament.

Today Ms Sheed used her Members Statement to honour the work of several Shepparton District residents who were awarded for their efforts at this year’s Greater Shepparton Volunteer awards.

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of regional communities,” Ms Sheed said.

“They go about their work quietly, with no expectation of reward, and it is so important that we recognize their vital role in our community.”

A full transcript of Ms Sheed’s Members Statement is below:

Today I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the many members of the Shepparton District community who generously volunteer their time, experience and energy to making our electorate a better place to work, live and invest.

The work you do is invaluable to our community and it is a pleasure to be able to stand here today and put several of your names on record as winners of the 2018 Greater Shepparton Volunteer Awards.

Congratulations to Dawn Tricarico, Auntie Kella Robinson, John Nisbet, Maya Ingham, Janet Batten, Joe Clarke and the team at the Book Inn on your contributions to our region.

It was particularly pleasing to see the winner of the long-serving award, Mooroopna’s Mr Clarke, feature on the front page of our local newspaper the Shepparton News last week in honour of his 60 years of volunteer service at the RSL.

Now 93, Mr Clarke served during World War II in Papua New Guinea, Borneo and Japan and through his role on the Shepparton RSL’s welfare committee, now visits returned services personnel in need of support.

Also acknowledged at the awards ceremony were 17-year-old Zahraa al Shamis and 18-year-old Suna Teia, receiving certificates for their work on the local police youth committee. Both have been volunteering on the committee with an eye to one day becoming police officers themselves.

ENDS

Media contact  

Riahn Smith 0419 138 978│riahn.smith@parliament.vic.gov.au

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