Wollongong Lions Club member Peter Howe was named Illawarra Volunteer of the Year and Senior Volunteer of the Year on Monday for his work with Lions and TAD's Freedom Wheels Program.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Howe helps more than 50 young people with disabilities access specially designed bicycles to allow them to participate in physical and social activity.
He was one of four volunteers in the region recognised at the Illawarra Volunteers Awards for outstanding contributions to the community run by The Centre for Volunteering and supported by NSW Department of Communities and Justice and ClubsNSW.
This year it was run as a virtual awards ceremony with the winners going on to represent the region at the 2020 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards.
Young Volunteer of the Year was Joshua Macleod, of Flinders, for his work with the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience as a high school student and using the experience to become a founding member of Kind Hearts Illawarra in 2017. He helps pack and deliver food hampers, clothing and other items to people living on the street.
Adult Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Madison McGuire, of Albion Park, who is a Keeper Volunteer with the Wildlife Hospital Team at the Taronga Conservation Society of Australia to help keep animals safe.
The Volunteer Team of the Year Award went to The Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra Bus Drivers and Carers Volunteers who help build important connections for people over 65 years of age from multicultural backgrounds. The five bus drivers and nine carers notch up more than 1000 hours a week to deliver 155 client trips.
The Centre for Volunteering chief executive Gemma Rygate said she could not be more proud of the region's volunteers and their incredible resilience and spirit.
NSW Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said it was impossible to put a price on the valuable contribution made by so many volunteers in the community.
Read more:
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.