Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres MP and Minister for Citizenship and Communities, Victor Dominello MP, are proud to announce the local winner of the NSW Volunteer of the Year Award.
“Volunteering is the cornerstone of our civic life, with millions of volunteers across NSW underpinning our society through their work, from patrolling our beaches to regenerating bushland.
“It is important to acknowledge those who sacrifice their time for the benefit of the broader community” Mr Ayres said
Mr Ayres has congratulated Jennifer Thomas on being named the Sydney Outer West/Blue Mountains Volunteer of the Year.
Jennifer has been volunteering with Bears of Hope Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Inc. for nearly three years.
“I am delighted that Jennifer has been recognised for her extraordinary contribution to our community,” said Mr Ayres.
“As the local Volunteer of the Year, Jennifer is now on the shortlist for the state award which will be announced in December.
“These awards are an excellent way to recognise the unsung heroes in Penrith – our volunteers,” said Mr Ayres.
Minister Dominello said that volunteers are estimated to be worth more than $2 billion to the NSW economy annually.
“That is along with the more than 240 million hours donated every year, by about two million individual volunteers across the state,” Dominello said.
The NSW Volunteer of the Year Award is an annual awards program run by The Centre for Volunteering.
The awards acknowledge the outstanding efforts of volunteers in NSW and promote the importance of volunteering.
Minister for Citizenship and Communities Victor Dominello said the NSW Government supports the NSW Volunteer of the Year Award as part of its commitment to celebrate volunteering.
“The NSW Volunteer of the Year Award honours their efforts and I congratulate everyone who was nominated, as well as the all the very worthy winners.”
For more information on the awards, please visit the website at www.nswvolunteerawards.com. The state winners will be announced on 5 December 2013.
