Recognising volunteers' contribution

Published on 17 May 2019

Residents who give up their time to support the community are being recognised for the role they play.

National Volunteer Week is being celebrated from Monday, 20 May to Sunday, 26 May, with events occurring throughout Australia.

First held in 1989, National Volunteer Week was the first collaborative attempt to promote volunteering nationally, with efforts now focusing on celebrating volunteering and thanking volunteers.

“This year’s theme is Making a World of Difference, and that is exactly what the volunteers who give up their time within the Gannawarra do,” Gannawarra Shire Council Deputy Mayor, Cr Charlie Gillingham said.

Council’s dedicated group of volunteers provided the following services during 2018:

• Through Council’s L2P program, 11 volunteers assisted 44 learner drivers accumulate a combined total of 374 hours behind the wheel;
• Gateway to Gannawarra Visitor Information Centre volunteers assisted the 9,346 people who visited the centre;
• Individuals and community group representatives helped deliver 10,121 meals to 112 residents in seven towns located within the Gannawarra as part of Council’s Meals on Wheels program; and
• One hundred residents took advantage of the Gannawarra Non-Emergency Transport Service to attend 237 medical appointments outside of the Gannawarra, resulting in 672 hours of transport hours provided.

“Whether it is the person who helps deliver Meals on Wheels, gives up their time to help our youth learn how to drive or assist in transporting people to medical appointments, our volunteers make residents’ lives better,” Cr Gillingham said.

To find out how you can volunteer with Gannawarra Shire Council, visit www.gsc.vic.gov.au