A 93-year-old volunteer is among five Greater Shepparton locals recognised for their contributions to the community at last night’s 2021 Greater Shepparton Volunteer Recognition Awards.
Gwen Wallace, 93, (pictured, far left, front row) was described by judges as “a standout volunteer” who had contributed to the wider community over many years.
“Gwen has given tirelessly to the community, touching the lives of others through her kindness and generosity. Gwen enjoys bringing joy to others and goes out of her way to do so,” the judges said.
One of her fellow volunteers said, “Gwen is like the Grandmother everyone wants, she has a heart of pure gold and makes everyone feel special. She has a special gift of brightening everyone’s day and bringing out the best in people”.
Last night’s ceremony, held at Riverlinks Eastbank, saw five locals awarded for their volunteering to help support and improve the wider Greater Shepparton community.
The five award recipients were:
- Young Volunteer: Tom Saxton
- Adult Volunteer: Severin Duhring
- Volunteer Team: Shepparton Foodshare
- Long Serving Volunteer: Geoff Long and Gwen Wallace
Now in its eleventh year, the awards attracted an impressive 24 nominations, with entrants volunteering their time with various organisations, service clubs and sporting groups across the region.
Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Kim O’Keeffe congratulated each of the five winners on their award.
“I congratulate and commend each of the recipients of the 2021 Greater Shepparton Volunteer Recognition Awards,” she said.
“While every entry we received was deserving of an award, the five winners were carefully selected for their impressive displays of dedication to their community over a number of years. These awards recognise that their effort and commitment are acknowledged and appreciated.”
She said that due to the extremely high calibre of entries received, this year two recipients received the Long Serving Volunteer Award.
“Volunteers, such as Geoff and Gwen, are examples of members of our community who commit much of their lives to volunteering. Both recipients are extremely deserving of the award,” she said.
“Our region relies heavily on the work of volunteers. There are many events, community organisations and service clubs who would not be able to operate without the continued support they receive.
“Greater Shepparton is characterised by a volunteering culture, with Council also providing many opportunities for volunteering across a range of programs. We value each and every one of our volunteers and the contribution they make every day, and The Greater Shepparton Volunteer Recognition Awards provide the perfect opportunity for the wider community and Council to formally say thank you to local volunteers for the work they do.”
