Member for Davidson, Jonathan O'Dea has congratulated Kevin Callinan of St Ives for receiving a Community Service Award in this year's NSW Seniors Week Achievement Awards, announced today (Sunday 18 March 2012) at Sydney's City Recital Hall.
The Awards recognise the significant contributions made by seniors and seniors' organisations in the development of their communities and provide an opportunity to thank them for their leadership and initiative.
"As the Local Member of Parliament, I have known Kevin for more than four years. He has undertaken substantial voluntary work with many community organisations. In particular, I helped him secure partial State Government funding for the highly successful, Ku-ring-gai Community Workshop, known as 'The Shed'," Mr O'Dea said.
"It is doubtful the St Ives Shed would even be a reality, let alone the success it is today, had it not been for the dedication, hard work and strong leadership of Kevin Callinan. He was instrumental in gaining financial support from Ku-ring-gai Council and the State Government. He also inspired and co-ordinated the many volunteers to bring the project to completion," he said.
The project was initially designed as a workshop for men but now also includes women. In addition to machinery for woodwork and light engineering, the shed also offers men instruction on computers and the internet as well as cooking classes, especially for those who may have recently become widowers or carers.
Kevin Callinan is President of the Ku-ring-gai Community Workshop "The Shed" and last August (at age 69) he also took on the positions of Secretary and Treasurer of the NSW Men's Shed Association.
Kevin is also actively involved in the St Ives Progress Association, St Stanislaus College (Bathurst) Old boys' Association, the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society, where he has made a valuable contribution to preserving local history, and undertakes charity work with Youth Off The Streets and the Saint Vincent de Paul Society.
"Our community has benefited greatly from the unselfish commitment of Kevin Callinan. On behalf of the community I thank and congratulate him on his well-deserved Community Service Award," Mr O'Dea said.
