Winners of the City of Ryde 2008 Volunteer Recognition Awards were announced at a gala ceremony on Thursday, 15 May, at the Ryde Civic Hall.
The winners in the three Categories were:
• Volunteer of the Year – Rob Wilkinson – for 30 years of service to the community, particularly for his work with Rotary’s ROMAC project which raises money to provide medical treatment for children from developing countries.
• Young Volunteer of the Year – Arda Lepedjian – a valued member of the Armenian Apostolic Church who works to bring young people together to help those in need.
• Group Volunteer of the Year – Ryde Hospital Pink Ladies – a group of 48 dedicated women who assist patients and staff in a variety of areas.
The Mayor, Clr Ivan Petch said the overwhelming response to this year’s Awards had been most gratifying, with a record forty-three nominations received for the Volunteer, Young Volunteer and the Group Award. “While this made the judges’ decision all the more difficult it does shows how appreciative the whole community is for the valuable work carried out by this army of unsung local heroes,” he said.
The Awards are held every year in conjunction with National Volunteer Week to honour the largely unseen mass of volunteers who give their time and skill so generously to uplift and benefit the lives of so many in our community, from the youngest to the oldest.
List of Nominees
Individuals
Cath Potter
Jimmy Shaw
June Austin
Gladys Wilkins
Jacinta Armstrong
Jennifer Noble
Pam Woodhouse
Rob Wilkinson
Rolf Clapham
Jan Shearer Hagop Meguerditchian
Daryl Osborne
Phil Kent
Sharon Daly
Roy Maggio
Janette Dive
Andrew & Marilyn Grant
Hamisdoulti Jebian
Roseanne Gallo
Audrey Barker Toyo Sastro
Peter Bardos
Andy & Karen Harrison
Dawei Chen
Helen Irani
Wendy Schultz
Nancy Wood
Patricia Dunk
Sonia Kraus
Youth
Arda Lepedjian
Erin Pilon
Richard Leong
Joel McFadden
Groups
Ryde Hospital Pink Ladies
Armenian Holy Trinity Church
Ryde Youth Council
Sydney Korean Women’s Association
Tzu Chi Foundation Australia
Pastoral Care Workers, Macquarie Hospital
St John Ambulance NSW – Ryde Division
Parent Classroom Helpers of St. Charles Primary School
Christian Community Aid Eastwood
Meadowbank Chinese Neighbourhood Centre
Media contact: Lee Kirkland 9952 8083
