Kiama Council is asking our community to help us celebrate the important work done by our Council volunteers and trainees.
CEO Jane Stroud said nominations were now open for the annual Robert East and Megan Dalley Awards, which recognise the efforts of one of our volunteers and trainees respectively.
"As a small, community-based Council, we rely on the support of our fantastic volunteers across our wide range of services and programs on a day-to-day basis," Ms Stroud said.
"Our municipality has a strong volunteering spirit. In fact, the 2016 census reports 27 per cent of our community volunteer in one way or another, compared to the NSW average of 18 per cent."
"As one of the beneficiaries, Kiama Council is dedicated to highlighting the achievements of these special people."
Ms Stroud said Council volunteers did everything from driving our Blue Haven community transport buses to leading our award-winning community programs.
In 2020, Dennis Frost, chair of the internationally-recognised Dementia Friendly Kiama Project, was recognised with a Robert East Award.
The Award honours the late Councillor East who had an outstanding record of community service.
Ms Stroud said as the municipality's largest employer, Council was proud of its role providing traineeships, as a career pathway for younger people.
"We have been fortunate to have so many talented young people begin their working lives with Kiama Council as trainees."
"The Megan Dalley Memorial Award, which recognises outstanding performance by one of our trainees, apprentices or cadets, is in honour of the late Megan Dalley, an outstanding customer service trainee of tremendous ability, attitude and commitment."
"In 2019, Jason Pappas from our Councils Parks and Gardens team received a Megan Dalley Award for his commitment to his horticulture apprenticeship and our parks and gardens."
"I'm happy to report that Jason is still tending to our parks and gardens and still happily providing horticulture advice to locals and directions for tourists."
"I ask everyone who lives and works in this great place to consider those Council trainees and volunteers they know, and nominate them for one of these awards."
Nominations can be made online: https://www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/Council/Awards
Nominations close 4pm, COB Friday 23 July.
The Awards will be presented during Local Government Week (2- 8 August).
