Linda Burney Member for Barton has paid tribute to local volunteers at an award ceremony and morning tea on Friday for National Volunteer Week.

National Volunteer Week is an initiative of Volunteering Australia. The theme this year us ‘Something for Everyone’, highlighting how each person can find their meaningful role in making a difference.

Ms Burney hosted a ‘thank you’ awards ceremony and morning tea for dozens of volunteers from around the electorate of Barton. She also announced that 18 organisations were receiving a total of $65,225 in the 2023-2024 Volunteer Grants round from the Department of Social Services.

Ms Burney was joined Russell Foxe OAM, Chairman of Kogarah Storehouse, which hosted the event, and nearly 100 volunteers from Barton. Each were presented with an award recognising their service to the community.

The late Michael Shiel, a volunteer at Gift of Bread, was honoured with a posthumous award, presented to his mother Patricia. Gift of Bread rescues surplus bread from bakeries to donate to local charities and social services.

Quotes attributable to Linda Burney, Member for Barton

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of our community. They clean up our local environment, train our kids in sports clubs, welcome new migrants, and look after us when times are tough.

“Volunteers tirelessly give up their free time, often with little acknowledgement or reward. The least we can do to say “thank you” is recognise their hard work to make this a better place.”

“The Volunteer Grants are another way to give back. The Government wants volunteers to know that we are backing them, and will continue to support their work in assisting our community.”