Knox City Council has recognised inspiring volunteers and community organisations in the Knox Community Awards.
Awards were presented for Community Organisation of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Outstanding Volunteer Service, as well as Recognition of Years of Service.
Knox Mayor, Councillor Lisa Cooper said these awards recognise and celebrate the individuals, organisations, clubs and groups who make a difference in our community through their tireless and selfless volunteering efforts.
"Our award recipients don't seek recognition but these awards are our way of honouring our unsung heroes who help make our community a better place," Cr Cooper said.
"Volunteers contribute thousands of hours to the City of Knox and the value of their volunteering is worth millions.
"There are more than 24,000 people who formally volunteer in Knox - that's 15.7% of the population. Most volunteers in Knox are aged 40-49 and we have 600 volunteers aged in their 80s and 90s.
"These awards aim to highlight the important work of volunteers in Knox and inspire others to start volunteering."
Winners were announced during National Volunteer Week, which runs from 19-25 May. The theme of this year's week is Connecting Communities, celebrating the power of volunteering to bring people together.
The Knox Community Awards recipients are:
Volunteer of the Year
- Irene Smith for her volunteer work with Boronia Road Uniting Church, Boronia and The Basin Community News, Rotary Club of Fern Tree Gully and Eastern Palliative Care Network
Community Organisation of the Year
- Outer Eastern Honorary Justices
Outstanding Volunteer Service (up to 5 recipients)
- Michael Crofts for his volunteer work with Home Library Services at Bayswater Library
- Alex Edwards for her volunteer work as a founding member and current Vice President of Melbourne All-Abilities Lions Club and with Interchange Outer East All-Inclusive Basketball Competition, Ferntree Gully Eagles All Abilities Football Club, Knox Pathways for Carers and Knox Disability Advisory Committee
- Robert Heinley for his volunteer work with Knox Obedience Dog Club
- Ruchi Sharma for her volunteer work with Volunteer for Knox and as Secretary of the Australia India Society of Victoria
- Ray Siegersma for his volunteer work with Rotary Club of Boronia
Citations
Volunteer of the Year: Irene Smith
Irene Smith has been a member of Boronia Road Uniting Church for 40 years, volunteering across many roles - as a Parish Council member, providing administration assistance, being an Elder on Church Council, coordinating fundraising activities, providing emergency food relief, providing pastoral visits, supporting the Scoresby Drop-in Centre and through the Knox Emergency Relief Network.
Irene has been an Elder on Church Council for over 20 years and taken up executive roles at various times as secretary, chairperson or vice chair.
She has provided support with emergency food relief, filling the roster, maintaining Coles and Woolworths vouchers and keeping up the food supplies.
As a fundraising coordinator, Irene arranges Bunnings barbecues to raise money for the emergency food relief program, afternoon teas for disadvantaged/lonely community members, activities such as fashion parades, concerts and the twice a year Makers and Growers Market.
Boronia and The Basin Community News, Eastern Palliative Care Network and the community also benefit from her talents.
Irene is energetic and always generating ideas for community engagement while fundraising for the church's mission (emergency food relief for people who live in the area) and for other charities such as Cancer Council, Act for Peace and the Uniting Church's Share Appeal.
Community Organisation of the Year: Outer Eastern Honorary Justices
Outer Eastern Honorary Justices Association Inc (OEHJ) has been serving the residents of Knox since the late 1960s. This group of highly trained and qualified volunteers include both Justices of the Peace and Bail Justices.
Justices of the Peace (JPs) play an important role in the local community by undertaking witnessing of documents such as Statutory Declarations, Affidavits and Powers of Attorney, which would otherwise be dealt with by Victoria Police, diverting them from their critical role of law enforcement.
Since the introduction of Document Signing Stations 11 years ago, OEHJ volunteer JPs have witnessed nearly 300,000 documents throughout Knox. This is around 25,000 hours of volunteering that would have otherwise been completed by Police Officers.
OEHJ volunteers also assist with keeping the community safe by undertaking out of sessions court hearings as Bail Justices (including weeknights, weekends and public holidays, often at 2am), and protecting the rights of society's young and cognitively impaired individuals by assisting them with their interactions with Victoria Police in the role of Independent Third Persons (for cognitively impaired) and Independent Persons (for under 18s).
OEHJ provide the training, education, peer support, mentorship and coordination of Honorary Justices, Independent Persons and Independent Third Persons.
Outstanding Volunteer Service
Michael Crofts
Michael Crofts is a Home Library Services volunteer at Bayswater Library and has been volunteering for over 15 years for Your Library (previously named Eastern Regional Libraries).
Michael has demonstrated commitment and compassion to the Knox Community, giving up his time for others. He takes great pride in his role and goes above and beyond what is expected.
He visits elderly vulnerable people, who are mostly confined to their homes, who might not have much social contact on a daily basis. His visits are a highlight to their day as he stops and has a chat, and he has built up a great rapport with the patrons. They all look forward to his arrival.
Over the years, the Home Library Services has increased the number of patrons. Michael continues to provide exceptional service and care to everyone involved.
He has always been reliable and never missed a single pick up or drop off in the many years of his service. The patrons who receive Home Library Service love him.
Michael is a true role model in the volunteer community. He has genuine compassion for others and his contribution as a volunteer makes a big difference to the lives of people he visits.
Alex Edwards
Alex Edwards is committed to creating inclusive communities, particularly for people living with disability.
For over 20 years, Alex has demonstrated a deep passion for ensuring that individuals with disability have equal access to opportunities.
Alex has lived in Knox for 18 years and built strong connections in the community, devoting her time to several organisations.
She has made a significant contribution in leading, establishing and running the Interchange Outer East All-Inclusive Basketball Competition, held at the State Basketball Centre in Knox. This competition offers people of all abilities the opportunity to participate in basketball. Alex also volunteers with the Ferntree Gully Eagles All Abilities Football Club, which provides football opportunities for players with disability.
As a founding member and Vice President of the Melbourne All-Abilities Lions Club, Alex plays a pivotal role in leading and organising volunteer teams for various community events.
Alex contributes valuable insights as a member of the Knox Disability Advisory Committee, advocating for positive changes for people with disabilities. Alex is the lead walker for Knox Pathways for Carers, building supportive relationships among unpaid carers.
Alex is an inspiring leader and her efforts have had a positive impact on the lives of many people.
Robert Heinley
Robert Heinley (Bob) has been an integral part of the Knox Obedience Dog Club (KODC) since May 1983, when he joined initially as a dog owner seeking training.
In 1988, Bob became a volunteer instructor, a role he has fulfilled with distinction for over 36 years. In that time, Bob has trained countless dogs and guided hundreds of owners on their journey toward responsible pet ownership.
His dedication and knowledge have made a lasting impact not just within the club but throughout the Knox community. The club now has more than 750 members and promotes responsible dog ownership and animal welfare while creating opportunities for social connection and personal development. Bob's contribution has been central to this mission.
Bob has served on the club's committee and training panel and was awarded life membership for his exceptional service.
Bob's leadership extends to broader community impact. KODC collaborates regularly with Knox City Council on community initiatives.
The clubhouse that Bob helped build alongside fellow volunteers stands as a physical testament to his dedication in partnership with others.
His warmth and humility have made him a trusted mentor, especially to new instructors and volunteers who look to him for guidance and encouragement.
Ruchi Sharma
Ruchi Sharma has made an outstanding contribution to the Knox community through years of volunteering across multiple local organisations and initiatives. She has a deep commitment to inclusion and cultural celebration.
Since joining Volunteer for Knox in 2019, Ruchi has supported others, particularly multicultural families and vulnerable residents. She assisted art classes at Mountain District Learning Centre and supported Glen Park Community Centre's food relief program, preparing and serving meals for locals in need.
During the pandemic, Ruchi volunteered with Community Houses Association of the Outer-eastern Suburbs (CHAOS) as an online tutor for students struggling with remote learning. She supported The Basin Neighbourhood House by cooking and delivering traditional Indian meals to migrant families in need.
As a member of the Knox Multicultural Advisory Committee, Ruchi has helped guide the Council's approach to inclusion and cultural awareness. She has an ambassador role across multicultural and faith communities and has participated in the Knox Mental Health Summit. Ruchi co-founded Hello Zindagi, a multicultural radio program on Radio Eastern FM.
She is Secretary of the Australia India Society of Victoria, a life member of Hindi Niketan and Uttar Pradesh Association of Australia, member of Perwira Indonesian Society, member of Australian Multicultural Organisations Network and member of Monash Lions Club.
Ray Siegersma
Ray Siegersma has made a significant contribution to the Knox community over many years through his volunteer work.
Ray joined the Rotary Club of Boronia in 1994 and was active in the club for several years. He moved in the aftermath of the Black Saturday bushfire, as he was engaged by Murrindindi Shire Council to administer their community recovery program.
Ray rejoined the Boronia Rotary Club in 2021, after returning to live locally. Since then, he has been busy working as a volunteer at the Community Breakfast program run by Knox Infolink, picking up and delivering collection boxes at local retail and community outlets for the annual Knox Community Christmas Support program, and helping cook barbecues to feed the Different Journeys volunteers and clients at their monthly swim nights.
In 2023, Ray proposed a new project to the club, a Youth Skills Shed aimed at encouraging primary school children (particularly those who do not excel academically or in sport) to practice and develop other hands-on skills. The Shed was set up in a building on the Boronia Heights Primary School premises and opened in Term 4, 2024.
In 2024-25, Ray is chair of the Rotary Club's Community Service Committee.
