Community members and groups from across the City of Casey were honoured on Friday 26 July evening at the Casey Volunteer Awards Ceremony.
Clive Butler was announced as the Individual Volunteer of the Year thanks to his outstanding service in Casey across the past 35 years.
“I certainly did come as a surprise,” he said. “If I join a club and I can help in some way well then I put my hand up.”
The 89-year-old has volunteered with St Andrew’s Berwick Uniting Church since the late 1980’s, and has also coordinated the fundraising for Transit Soup Kitchen in Narre Warren.
“I have to be involved if something interests me – and that’s basically what drives me,” Mr Butler said.
Sadia Batool Ali received a Highly Commended Award in this category for her work in the community assisting Hazara women to settle in Australia.
In a first for the awards, Jessica Borstelj and Tarali Bendix were the two joint winners of the Casey Young Volunteer Award.
Jessica is a horse care volunteer with the Riding for Disabled, while Tarali, at just 11 years of age, is a dedicated junior coach at Berwick Flames Basketball Club.
The Casey Volunteering Pair Award was awarded to Ian and Carmel Cuthbertson, a husband and wife duo who have volunteered for many of the Westernport’s coastal safety causes, from transmitting daily weather and safety information to ships at sea, to radio listening and assisting in the rescue of stranded boats. They also volunteer with a guide dog pet therapy program in hospitals.
The longstanding Doveton Show Committee were recognised as the Casey Volunteer Group Award winners, for their efforts as organisers of the iconic event.
The Casey Volunteer Organisation of the Year was awarded to e.motion21, which enhances the lives and changes the perceptions of people with Down Syndrome.City of Casey Mayor Cr Amanda Stapledon congratulated all recipients for their positive contributions.“I feel very inspired seeing and hearing about the wonderful work being undertaken by dedicated volunteers in our community,” she said.
