Longman Volunteer Awards

By Alistair Gray

At the recent annual Longman Volunteer Awards more than 30 individuals and community groups were recognised for their remarkable service and contribution to our community. The awards were inclusive with community members from all walks of life invited to participate.

“This is a great opportunity to acknowledge the many hard-working volunteers in our community who are the backbone and are what makes our community such a success,” Member for Longman Terry Young said.

The awards were held at Caboolture Sports Central with special guest Queensland Senator James McGrath. Seeing some of our Bribie locals recognised in the awards is excellent; we should all be proud of their achievements and congratulate them.

Recipients of the Overall Achievement Awards included-

Community Group Achievement Award – The Bribie Island View Club

The View Club stands for the Voice, Interests and Education of Women and actively supports The Smith Family, a children’s education charity.

Sporting Achievement Award – The Suncoast Spinners

A sporting club providing wheelchair basketball and rugby for more than 20 years.

Environment Achievement Award – Wildlife Rescue Queensland (WRQ)

WRQ is well-known to readers and comprises a special group of unpaid volunteers who provide care and rescue for sick and injured wildlife, often caring for the animals in their homes, alongside an active education program. The service covers Moreton Bay with close links to the Australia Zoo Hospital and a rehabilitation and release program. WRQ vice president Katrina Gillian also received an individual community award for her work. Often forgotten, WRQ was originally started from the seeds of the Bribie Island and Districts Wildlife Rescue and the need to meet the demands of the greater Moreton Bay region.

Kevin has given more than 36 years of service to the Bribie Lions Club and our local community. He has been the backbone of the club, including being the driving force behind organising community days for Camp Quality for more than 20 years and a Scout leader for 10 years.

Some of the many projects he has been involved in include Australia Day Big Breakfast, seniors Christmas lunches, projects to assist the elderly and disabled, the Melsa Train, markets at Brennan Park and Woorim, maintenance of the memorial gardens and many projects that are too many to list. People like Kevin who quietly work away largely unnoticed, are invaluable to our community.