Fiona Phillips (Gilmore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

This last year might be remembered for many reasons, but I think it should be renamed the 'Year of the Volunteer'. Last year our community was hit with drought, bushfire, flood and a pandemic. We have never needed our volunteers more. Time and time again, we have seen our volunteers step up when they were needed most, supporting local people who were having the hardest year of their lives. I want to sincerely thank all our local volunteers for everything they have done.

In the last round of volunteer grants at the start of last year, I had an absolutely overwhelming response, with over 74 expressions of interest from local organisations. At the time I requested the minister make further funds available for our hardworking volunteers. I was delighted to see those funds being made available through the Supplementary Volunteer Grants program, and now 12 local volunteer groups in my electorate will share in more than $41,000 as part of this program.

I would like to congratulate all of the local recipients: the Bay and Basin Cancer Support Group, Community Life Batemans Bay, Eurobodalla Meals on Wheels, Gerringong football club, the Kiama Show Society, Kiama Woodcraft Group, the Lions Club of Batemans Bay, the Rotary Club of Kiama, the Rotary Club of Nowra, the Shoalhaven Historical Society, Shoalhaven Neighbourhood Services, and the Lions Club of Jervis Bay. Well done, and thank you for all your work over the last year.

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