Friday, 09 December 2011

Member for Davidson, Jonathan O'Dea has congratulated the winners of the 2011 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards.

"In the electorate of Davidson, Richard High of St Ives Chase has been awarded the 2011 NSW Corporate Volunteer of the Year Award, which recognises volunteers who are sponsored by their employers and released from employment to carry out volunteer activities," Mr O'Dea said.

Richard, who is employed by One - Path ANZ Wealth, was recognised for his volunteer work with the Cerebral Palsy Alliance over the last 10 years.

He has played an active role in promoting fundraising and participating in the Blackmore’s Bridgerun – coordinating between 20-40 volunteers from his company to push children and young adult clients of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance in their wheelchairs.

More recently Richard has become an official Community Champion helping to promote volunteering and corporate engagement with the Cerebral Palsy Alliance. While participating in this role, Richard has also been a volunteer mentor in its Ignition Youth Mentoring Program, working with a 19 year old with cerebral palsy.

"I am pleased Richard has been acknowledged for his volunteer work and commitment to the Cerebral Palsy Alliance," Mr O'Dea said.

"The Manly Warringah Pittwater Community Transport organisation, which services part of the Davidson electorate, has also been recognised with a NSW Excellence in Not-For-Profit Management Award.

"The one-off award to celebrate the International Year of the Volunteer + 10 was open to not-for-profit organisations which demonstrated best practice in the management of their volunteers. There were 24 recipients.

"The important work of volunteers in our community should never be underestimated and I am pleased that some of the more outstanding have been recognised through the 2011 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards," Mr O'Dea concluded.