Media Release: 2022 Volunteer Recognition Evening

The West Tamar Council’s Volunteer Recognition Evening, as part of National Volunteer Week 2022, was held on Monday 16th May 2022 from 5:45pm at the Tailrace Centre, with approximately 75 guests in attendance.

The awards recognise volunteer contributions to the West Tamar Community, with presentations made in the following categories:

Volunteer of the Year– Sue Kanarev: Sue has volunteered simultaneously on approximately 10 committees over the past 10 years since her retirement. These roles have usually been office bearing roles that involve work between meetings and often inform committee directions. Most of the committees Sue has volunteered for are related to the health and well-being of the community. She is currently Treasurer of the Beaconsfield Community Health and Well-being Association, Treasurer of the Beauty Point Hospital Auxiliary, Treasurer of People of the Point Communities, and Treasurer of West Tamar Garden Club. She is a busy volunteer for a major part of every week, a meeting free day is a rarity for Sue.

Young Volunteer of the Year – Isabel Partridge is a volunteer with the West Tamar Council Youth Advisory Council (YAC). Over the years she has assisted at many community events including Beaconsfield Youth Festival, Teddy Bears Picnic, Seniors’ Advisory Group Drive-in, Battle of the Bands, Beaconsfield Rock Challenge, and Schools Out. In March 2022, YAC participated in Relay for Life which was a cause close to many in the group. Isabel not only helped organise the group’s participation, but also raised a personal total of $1605. She is a true inspiration and an amazing example to other young people and adults in the community.

Volunteer Group of the Year – The CWA Online Branch of Tasmania was created in December 2020 in Kelso due to an identified need to support Tasmanian women who were unable to attend face to face groups due to COVID restrictions and lockdowns, health barriers, family commitments, rural locations, and work restrictions etc. Since its inception through the use of Zoom meetings and social media, this amazing group of women has spread its wings quickly across the whole of Tasmania. It provides a unique virtual network of women who help support their local communities, especially women and children in rural areas, with fundraising, fun activities, lobbying and mental health support. After struggling through recent challenging times, CWA Online Branch of Tasmania have wholeheartedly embraced technology to support each other and prevent isolation.

Mayor Christina Holmdahl said “The West Tamar Council Volunteer Recognition Evening acknowledges those who give selflessly to others as valued members of our local community. On behalf of the West Tamar Council and everyone in our community, I thank them most sincerely for their contributions and encourage everyone to thank the volunteers in their lives this Nation Volunteer Week 2022”.

Category winners, nominees and nominators were celebrated over a light supper, with music by The Tassie Tenor - Joe Di Sario and guest speakers Jayne Shapter and Helen Eastburn from West Tamar Landcare.