Awards and Initiatives

Volunteers’ Contribution Recognised by the Town of Mosman Park

Oct 17 2016

The vital role played by volunteers in the community was recognised at the annual awards evening hosted by the Town of Mosman Park on Friday 14 October 2016, at the Joy Shepherd Performing Arts Centre at St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls.  

Guests including volunteers from local schools, sporting clubs, churches, senior services, arts and cultural groups and disability services were in attendance on the night that is a highlight on the neighbourhood calendar for the many community groups that are active in the Town.  

In his speech Mayor Ron Norris sincerely thanked volunteers and acknowledged the importance of their hard work, without which so many wonderful things in the community just would not happen.  Also in attendance were Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jenna Ledgerwood, who was the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, as well as Councillor Zenda Johnson, Councillor Ian Flack, Councillor Andrew Maurice, Councillor Brett Pollock and Councillor Wes Davies, who joined community leaders in sharing in the celebrations.

This year’s major award recipient was 19 year old Kate Woolhouse of the Mosman Park Youth Advisory Council who was presented with the 2016 Volunteer of the Year Award.

Kate joined the Mosman Park Youth Advisory Council when she was a year 10 student at St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls.  
Over the past four years, Kate has volunteered at many Mosman Park community events including ANZAC Day and Australia Day celebrations, The Grove Library Halloween event and running youth activities and face painting at the Mosman Park Community Fair. In addition to these community activities, Kate has been a passionate advocate for young people in Mosman Park and has played a key role in developing youth projects such as the state wide YACtivate! youth conference and local STOMP! race around Mosman Park.

Kate’s commitment to the Youth Advisory Council and the young people of Mosman Park has been exceptional, particularly over the past 18 months as she has taken on the role of Secretary of the group as well as acting as project Chairperson for the Western Suburbs Ampfest Committee which brought together members from four different Youth Advisory Councils for this year’s Western Suburbs Youth Week activity.

Cr Ledgerwood stated that, “We have been fortunate to see Kate mature and develop into the young leader that she is today, and to have her continue to contribute so actively as a volunteer, and role model for other local young people.”

Long-Serving Volunteer Recognition certificates were presented to: 
•    Kevin Casey – Rocky Bay
•    Leanda Syme – Mosman Park Netball Club
•    Waclaw (Vass) Bielski – Shine Community Services
•    Wendy Taylor – Mosman Park Tennis Club
•    Margaret Bond – Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club
•    Georgina Pearce – RFDS Flying 1000
•    Peter & Kerri Wilkinson – Fremantle–Mosman Park Cricket Club

The talent and potential of the Town’s young people was also recognised as Lydia Attwooll, Millie Bates, Brandon Boccola and Lydia Matthews received Youth Encouragement Grants. These grants assist young people to achieve their goals and engage with the Town of Mosman Park and local community through the Mosman Park Youth Advisory Council.  

2015 Youth Encouragement Grant winners entertained the crowd with presentations relating to their achievements over the last year thanks to the Town’s grant funding.  Charlotte Bradley, who received her grant in the Music and the Arts category was able to develop her sewing skills and run an upcycled clothing workshop for local young people with the assistance of St Luke’s Anglican Church Op-Shop whilst another recipient, Olivia Martin, in the Academic category was able to improve her French language skills through a French Student Exchange program. 

Fellow 2015 Youth Encouragement Grant recipient Georgie Carey, who received her grant under the Leadership category described her role as 2016 National Youth Week Ambassador for WA and chairing the WA Youth Planning Committee.

About the Awards

The Volunteer of the Year is awarded to a volunteer who has significantly contributed to the Mosman Park community through volunteer activity in the past year.  

The Youth Encouragement Grants were introduced to support and assist young people to achieve their goals and previous recipients have gone on to become role models for other youth in the Mosman Park community. 

Long Serving Volunteer Recognition certificates go to volunteers who work for community organisations over a long period of time, many giving years if not decades of dedicated service.
                
The Town of Mosman Park would like to congratulate all nominees and award winners and thank all those who made nominations.

The Town of Mosman Park receives nominations throughout the year for Volunteer of the Year Awards, and encourages community members to put forward the names of those individuals and/or groups who are deserving of recognition for their contribution to the community.