The Heart Volunteer Awards nominations open

Nominate a volunteer who is the beating heart of a rural community in the inaugural The Weekly Times Heart Volunteer Awards, supported by the Powercor Country Festival.

The Weekly Times Heart Volunteer Awards, supported by the Powercor Country Festival, honour the selfless people who are crucial to rural communities.

• Nominations are now open for The Weekly Times Heart Volunteer Awards, supported by the Powercor Country Festival

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EVERYONE across rural Australia knows at least one.

A selfless volunteer who is the beating heart of their community.

The Weekly Times is proud to partner with the Powercor Country Festival to launch the inaugural Heart Volunteer Awards, honouring these unsung heroes in four categories: Sport, Community, Environment and Coles Emergency Responders.

ABOUT THE AWARDS

The Heart Volunteer Awards is a nine-week campaign that will celebrate those who give their time and expertise, and often put their own safety on the line, for the sake of their rural communities.

For the next nine weeks, we will share stories highlighting outstanding volunteers in four categories: Sport, Community, Emergency Responders and Environment.

During that time, we will search for people who have gone beyond the call of duty, showed exceptional commitment to a cause and devoted a substantial amount of time to selflessly help others.

We kick off this week with stories of three people who exemplify the qualities: longstanding St John Ambulance volunteer Grant Parker of Wodonga, CFA member Bob Carney from Buchan and Eventing Victoria’s chief medical officer Tess Goodwin from Yackandandah.

The awards will culminate with the announcement of four winners, whose profiles will be shared in a special edition of The Weekly Times on Wednesday, May 6.

Winners will be invited to the Powercor Country Festival football match between Geelong and Essendon at the MCG on Saturday, May 9, where they will be honoured for their contributions.

WHY VOLUNTEERS DESERVE RECOGNITION

This year in particular, when drought, bushfires and floods have caused such hardship for so many across country Australia, it is strikingly clear how vital volunteers are to our regional towns and rural areas.

Not just during the recent devastating season, but every summer, volunteers are the ones on the frontline, checking firefighting equipment, training others and battling the flames.

They can be found every weekend at sporting clubs in rural towns across the country; manning the canteen, umpiring, coaching, setting up, packing away and raising funds so players and their families can stay active and healthy.

There they are again, chopping vegies in charity kitchens; helping children in school learning clubs; cleaning up waterways; protecting native wildlife; patrolling beaches.

Landcare groups, animal rescue, pony clubs, surf lifesaving crews; none of these organisations would exist if it weren’t for volunteers.

If you know a rural volunteer who is truly the beating heart of their rural community, nominate them now.