A MERRIWA woman and her father have received recognition for 25 years’ volunteering with an Aboriginal corporation.
Karan Hayward and her father Denis, who lives in Lockridge, have both volunteered with the Woolah-Wah Aboriginal Land Corporation for 25 years in various roles to improve the wellbeing of Aboriginal people.
Mr Hayward’s personal and community responsibility spans seven decades, starting when he was employed aged 13 and often provided money to his parents to support the family.
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READ NOWNow 83, he continues to volunteer with the corporation, which started in 1992 and underwent a name change in 2001.
He forged a partnership with the Indigenous Community Volunteers to support the organisation in its business and to improve the wellbeing of Aboriginal people.
He also continues to volunteer his time on the Aboriginal health committee and the Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management’s Aboriginal Elders Group to improve landcare.
The pair were among 130 people recognised at ceremonies to mark the WA Volunteer Service Awards on May 27, including Woodvale resident Jim Busby.
Mr Busby was honoured for his 26 years of service to the Activ Recreation program in the 25 to 49-year-olds category.
The program stalwart has taken volunteers on holidays during his own annual leave since 1992 and was described as being reliable, committed and a valuable member of the Activ volunteer team.
Merriwa resident Peter Long received recognition for helping his wife Margaret volunteer with the Red Cross for the past 28 years.
Mr Long joined the Heathridge unit in 1992 and was a member until they closed in 2009 and has supported his wife since 1978 with appeals, raffle tickets, mobile blood bank, stalls and sausage sizzles.
He received the first bar for 20 years service in 2016 and remains a financial member.
Volunteering Minister Mick Murray said the awards honoured more than 300 Western Australians who had each given their time, energy and commitment to a variety of causes and passions for at least 25 years.
“It is amazing that these volunteers have clocked up an outstanding 9500 years of community service,” he said.
“Volunteers are extraordinary people who make outstanding social, economic and cultural contributions to WA that are worth billions of dollars every year.”
Other northern suburbs recipients included Ridgewood JP John Ashley (37 years), Wanneroo JP Michael O’Brien (35 years), Two Rocks JP Allan Shuttleton (34 years), Duncraig JP Robert Woodgate (34 years), Warwick JP Leander Baldsing (33 years), Burns Beach JP John Hollywood (32 years) and Kallaroo JP Geoffrey Waldock (32 years).
Other recipients included Bayswater residents Peter Seaman and Giuseppe Tavelli, who have been Justices of the Peace for 33 and 32 years respectively.
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