Winners of the 2022 Volunteer Recognition Awards revealed

Published on 20 May 2022

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The winners of the 2022 City of Ryde Volunteer Recognition Awards – including the first ever Community Hero recipients – were announced at a ceremony at Curzon Hall in Marsfield last night. 

This year’s Individual Volunteer of the Year award winner was Sheena Smith who volunteers for Riding for the Disabled in Marsfield. 

Through her volunteer work, Ms Smith helps care for the horses involved in the program as well as assist riders with their requirements. She also helps promote the Riding for Disabled centre throughout the local community, talking to potential clients such as schools about the benefits the program can deliver to participants.  

Abby Hill was announced as the winner of the Young Volunteer of the Year award for her volunteer work with care and disability services. This includes helping organise the Everybody Dance Now Discos, assisting the Royal Rehab lifestyle choir with rehearsals and performances, and volunteering for sailing disability organisation, Sailability.

Ryde Secondary College student, Ella Marcellino, received a Young Special Commendation award for her significant contribution to school improvement and student engagement. 

The Stryder Social and Shopping Bus Volunteers were named the Group Volunteer of the Year. The dedicated group of volunteers accompany Stryder’s clients on their shopping and social outings each week, helping ensure each client can continue to live independently and lead well-balanced lives.

This year’s City of Ryde Volunteer Recognition Awards also featured a new Community Heroes award category, which recognises a selection of community members – both past and present – who have contributed to the sense of community in the City of Ryde.

The inaugural recipients of the Community Heroes award were:

  • Barry Budd 
  • Philip Brown
  • Leasa Clark
  • Rochelle Keshishian
  • Susan Nocom
  • Kedarnath Pagaddinnimath
  • Barry Parsons
  • Helen Pegler
  • Kathy Tracy
  • Shaun Warden

City of Ryde Mayor, Clr Jordan Lane, congratulated all award recipients and nominees.

“The Volunteer Recognition Awards are a great way for us to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of all of our wonderful volunteers who devote countless hours to helping those in our community who need assistance,” Clr Lane said. 

“I am particularly delighted with the introduction of the Community Heroes award category, as it now gives us the opportunity to recognise and acknowledge the great number of people who contribute or have contributed to the sense of community that makes the City of Ryde a great place to live and visit.”