Heart Volunteer Awards 2021 winners revealed
Meet the 2021 Heart Volunteer Awards winners, honoured for the huge contributions they have made to their rural communities.
The Weekly Times is proud to partner with the Powercor Country Festival to celebrate rural volunteers in the second year of the Heart Volunteer Awards.
Today, the four winners are announced in the categories of Sport, Community, Coles Emergency Responder and Junior Volunteer
They are shining examples of the army of volunteers who are the beating heart of rural communities.
SPORT WINNER
PETER CONHEADY, Camperdown
Long-term volunteer for Camperdown Football Netball Club who was also a driving force behind building a new function centre at the club’s home ground. Read his story.
COMMUNITY WINNER
LORRAINE MacGILLIVRAY, Sale
As a volunteer with the Youth Referral and Independent Person Program, Lorraine supports and protect the rights of young people in custody, when they have no other adult to turn to for help. Read her story.
COLES EMERGENCY RESPONDER WINNER
JESSICA ZUBER, Chiltern
Controller of the Chiltern SES unit who has worked tirelessly to build the unit from a small number of members into a 40-member group that is thriving and highly engaged with the community. Read her story.
JUNIOR VOLUNTEER WINNER
TOM McCARTHY, Ballarat
A volunteer at Nazareth House aged care since he was a toddler, Tom treats all the residents as if they are family and went to special effort during Covid, playing his trumpet outside the house so all the residents could hear. Read his story.
FINALISTS
SPORT
CRAIG McALLISTER, Dunkeld
Western District Umpires Association member who has balanced the books as volunteer treasurer for the past 35 years
JO BACKWAY, Undera
Life member of Lancaster Netball Club and Kyabram District League who does everything from coaching to co-ordinating umpires
COMMUNITY
KIM MARTIN, Bendigo
Young mum who couldn’t return to work after a debilitating brain injury, but was determined to contribute to her community so took up volunteering for the Red Cross
JOHN HILLARD, Mt Beauty
An Angel Flight volunteer pilot who helps improve rural Australians’ access to essential health care by flying patients to important repetitive medical appointments, such as cancer treatments
COLES EMERGENCY RESPONDER
TERRY HEDT, Little River
CFA captain who has volunteered for the past 55 years, and established a monument to the 23 people who lost their lives in the 1969 Lara bushfire, which he battled with his brigade
MEAGHAN DALY, Walwa
Dairy farmer and volunteer first responder with Ambulance Victoria who also created a campaign to raise awareness about mental health issues in her farming community
KEVIN McNAIR, Woodend
SES Woodend Unit controller who has devoted 12 years to the service, and responded to more than 600 requests for help during the 10 days after June’s storms, more than twice the unit’s average yearly total
JUNIOR VOLUNTEER
EDEN McMILLAN, Bairnsdale
Volunteer lifesaver at Lakes Entrance Surf Life Saving club who rescued her sister during a boating accident and also works hard to train up younger junior members
HARRISON DAVIS, Cowwarr
CFA volunteer who joined his brigade at the age of 12. Now 18, Harrison helped at Swifts Creek in the aftermath of the 2019-20 fires and also fought the fire at Cowwarr Primary School last year
For the past nine weeks, nominations have flooded in from readers, who shared stories of people who go above and beyond for sporting clubs, community groups and emergency services across the state. A new Junior Volunteer category has been added this year, to honour young people who are contributing to good causes.
We have showcased 13 finalists selected across the four categories of Sport, Community, Coles Emergency Responders and Junior Volunteer.
All the finalists deserve praise, but four people stand out among them for their drive to help some of the most vulnerable in our communities and for inspiring others to join volunteer efforts. They are this year’s worthy winners, revealed on Page 4.
Powercor general manager corporate affairs Joanne Pafumi says supporting the Heart Volunteer Awards is another way the Powercor Country Festival encourages people to show their gratitude for the contribution of regional Victorians.
“Through these awards we recognise volunteers who make incredible contributions to our regional communities,” Joanne says.
“We’d like to offer our thanks to all the nominees and special congratulations to the winners.”
Winners will each receive $1000 from Powercor and be honoured at the Powercor Country Festival AFL match between Essendon and Geelong at GMHBA Stadium this Friday.
MORE
HEART VOLUNTEER AWARDS: EMERGENCY WINNER ANNOUNCED
Young leader injects fresh life into Chiltern SES
Since taking the helm of Chiltern’s SES Unit, Jessica has been fearless in the face of disaster and inspired more than 30 new members to join the service.
Sale youth champion wins community volunteer award
Lorraine MacGillivray is on call around-the-clock, always ready to support East Gippsland’s young people when they most need it.