A South Plympton volunteer has been recognised for her tireless work in the community.
Janet Weir has been named a finalist for the Volunteer of the Year category at the 2024 Stroke Awards.
Janet has been a StrokeSafe Speaker for more than a decade. She has delivered more than 210 talks to businesses, community groups and probus clubs since joining as a volunteer in 2013.
In 2023, Janet travelled to the Northern Territory, including in rural and regional communities, where she delivered 14 talks in just 15 days.
A passionate advocate, Janet became inspired to deliver talks after seeing the devastating impact stroke had on her own family members. Since then, she's been determined to educate others about recognising the signs of stroke, and ways to lower their stroke risk.
The Stroke Awards celebrate the unsung heroes in our community who go above and beyond to improve the lives of Australians affected by stroke. This includes the survivors of stroke, carers, volunteers, fundraisers, health professionals and researchers and members of the community.
The Volunteer of the Year category recognises those outstanding volunteers whose dedicated service has made a significant difference.
Stroke Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Dr Lisa Murphy said Janet has single-handedly helped educate hundreds of South Australians about stroke.
"Janet's untiring determination, energy and passion to prevent stroke inspires those around her. She has and continues to be a tremendous advocate for Stroke Foundation," Dr Murphy said.
"Janet is an asset to our organisation in so many ways. She delivers such engaging talks and is a great asset to our StrokeSafe program," she said.
The finalists for the Volunteer of the Year Award are:
- Janet Weir - South Australia
- Tony Arfaras - Victoria
- John Stevens - Tasmania
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Melbourne on May 3, 2024.
There are eight categories in total: Warrior, Improving Life After Stroke, Creative, Courage, First Nations Stroke Excellence, Fundraiser of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and President's Achievement.
The 2024 Stroke Awards are supported by Medtronic, Abbvie, Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA), Ipsen, NAB, Precision Connect and Worrells.
