2011 is the 10th anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers (IYV+10) and this important event celebrates the valuable work of volunteers around the world. We celebrate volunteering as an expression of our common humanity and as a means of building mutual respect, understanding, trust, solidarity and reciprocity. As a nation, we stand together and extend a hand to our mate in need, we volunteer.
Western Australia’s IYV+10 commemorations provided an opportunity to inspire more Western Australians to join the state’s 600,000+ formal volunteers who contribute to our community. Events were held throughout the year in all regions and a range of innovative and exciting initiatives will leave a legacy well beyond 2011.
Key IYV+10 events included a gala Awards presentation dinner and the launch of the inaugural Western Australian Volunteer of the Year Awards, a Volunteering Symposium for local and regional volunteer managers, 50 innovative small grant events across the state and a Volunteering Ambassadors program with inspirational role models. An all-embracing report on culturally and linguistically diverse volunteers will provide a valuable resource for volunteer managers and a comprehensive State of Volunteering in WA report based on state-wide research will deliver an overview of volunteering in Western Australia.
The culmination of Western Australia’s IYV+10 commemorations was a volunteering garden party on Sunday December 4 in the magnificent gardens of Government House. The event marked the close of IYV+10 commemorations and celebrated International Volunteer Day on December 5.
Attended by more than 1,200 volunteers, family and friends, and hosted by the Governor of Western Australia Malcolm McCusker and Mrs Tonya McCusker, the event included a Welcome to Country by Professor Colleen Hayward, a Salute to Volunteers address by the Governor and the launch of a 50 year Volunteer Service Badge by Volunteering Minister the Hon Robyn McSweeney MLC.
The highlight was when the Governor, Mrs McCusker and Minister McSweeney presented the badges to 114 remarkable Western Australians who have committed more than 50 years voluntary service to one organisation.
The 50 year Volunteer Service Badge is an initiative of the Department for Communities as part of the State Government’s Vital Volunteering 2011 – 2016 commitment to supporting and encouraging volunteering in Western Australia. A total of 181 volunteers will be awarded with the inaugural badge.
According to Volunteering WA CEO Mara Basanovic IYV+10 brought all sectors of the volunteering community together to highlight the extraordinary spirit and capacity of Western Australian volunteers and demonstrate the strength and vitality of volunteering in Western Australia.
“IYV+10 clearly demonstrated the enormous contribution volunteers and volunteer involving organisations make to our community and the positive and enduring benefits volunteering brings to the community, to the sector and to volunteers themselves”, she said.
Volunteering WA’s IYV+10 celebrations could not take place without the valued support of partners Lotterywest, the Department for Communities, The West Australian, Eduka, Adcorp, Woodside, The Governor's Establishment, GCS, Ferngrove Wines, Bell-Vista Fruit & Vegetable Co Ltd, Harvey Fresh, Coles North Perth and the Royal Australian Mint.
TEN YEARS, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS, AND A CELEBRATION!
