PEEL Men of the Trees’ Manny Minolas is Alcoa Peel Volunteer of the Year.
The award was presented at the 11th annual volunteer awards at a breakfast this morning at Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club.
Michele Frost of Peel Community Legal Services was Youth Volunteer of the Year and Waroona Volunteer Fire and Emergency Service was the Peel Community Group of the Year.
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READ NOWThe Volunteer of the Year Award was based on Mr Minolas’s adroit stewardship and devotion to the Peel branch of Men of the Trees.
Mr Minolas joined the group in 2003 and became chairman in 2008.
His work at local and state level was recognised by life membership of Men of the Trees WA last year.
As a direct result of his efforts, Men of the Trees has supplied more than 10,000 plants a year to the Peel region for revegetation and beautification projects.
Youth Volunteers of the Year Michele Frost volunteers with Peel Community Legal Services, a free advisory service for those on low incomes.
Presenting her award, Murray Shire president David Bolt described her as having a “never say no’’ attitude and a “let’s see how we can do this’’ approach.
Her clients are often disadvantaged and vulnerable, occasionally with low literacy and not always able to follow through on the advice they are given.
He said Frost was dedicated, travelled at her own expense one hour each way and had helped make legal services to young people accessible.
Waroona Volunteer Fire and Emergency Service has a strong and dedicated membership of 27 who, in the last two years, faced a big fire at Waroona and one of the biggest fires in WA’s history at Yarloop.
But the service was nominated for its non-fire and emergency involvement in the community.
It regularly helps Waroona aged care facility Quambie Park with emergency evacuation drills, visits kindergartens, play groups and schools to raise awareness, participates in community information sessions and helps with community events and other initiatives.
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