The winners of the 2022 Broken Hill Volunteer Awards were announced yesterday as part of the annual Celebration of Volunteering Afternoon Tea event.
The ceremony took place at the Broken Hill Civic Centre, with a total of eight awards given out to various volunteer sectors across the city, as well as the unveiling of the new Nydia Edes Volunteer Hall of Fame honour board.
Individual awards were awarded to Lorraine and Ray Sartori (Community), Michael Pedergnana (Environment) and Steven Moore (Sporting).
Group and Organisation awards were won by Broken Hill Meals on Wheels (Community), Tidy Towns Working Group and Friends (Environment) and Broken Hill Lawn Bowls Groundsmen (Sporting).
This year's event award was won by the Centenary Commemoration of the death of Percy Brookfield (1921), a popular show held early in 2021, that both entertained and played tribute to Percy Brookfield's important place in Broken Hills union and political history.
Recognised for their incredible 60-year volunteering history in the Broken Hill Community, husband and wife duo Lorraine and Ray Sartori were announced as the 2022 Nydia Edes Hall of Fame Award recipients.
The Nydia Edes Hall of Fame was first introduced as part of the annual volunteer awards in 2011, as a way to recognise and honour the remarkable contribution of a volunteer who has dedicated volunteer services across their lifetime.
Mayor Tom Kennedy congratulated all award recipients and nominees.
"The Volunteer Awards are a great way for us to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of all of our wonderful volunteers who devote countless hours in our community" Mayor Kennedy said.
"Combining the awards ceremony as part of this fantastic event, is a great opportunity to be able to recognise not only our award winners, but all our volunteers. We are lucky to have such a great number of people who contribute or have contributed to the sense of community that makes the City of Broken Hill a great place to live and visit."
"Congratulations to all our winners, and to everyone who gives up their time to improve the lives of others"
List of Award Recipients
Community Award (Organisation) – Broken Hill Meals on Wheels.
Broken Hill Meals on Wheels have been providing meals for aged community members in need for many decades. Their crucial kitchen volunteers come in five morning a week to assist with meal preparation, serving, and general kitchen duties.
Community Award (Individual) – Lorraine and Ray Sartori.
This husband-and-wife duo have spent over 60 years working for the Broken Hill community as a team.
Early on while their children were still in school, Ray and Lorraine were volunteers with the Picton Oval Committee and Sacred Heart Mother's Club respectively. In 1991, Lorraine and Ray commenced volunteering with Broken Hill Meals on Wheels and Sulphide Street Railway & Historical Museum and continue to do so today.
Environment Award (Organisation) – Tidy Towns Working Group and Friends
The Tidy Towns Working Group and Friends are a small but dedicated group who attend working bees throughout the community to clean up our city as well as participating in the Clean Up Australia Day 2021.
Currently, this group of volunteers now concentrate on cleaning up the Cemetery, a significate historical site within our town. They help with removing unwanted or discarded flowers and any other debris found in the area.
The tasks this group of volunteers perform goes a long way to assisting in ensuring the Cemetery remains tidy for visitors and debris does not cause damage to waterways and creeks throughout the area.
Environment Award (Individual) – Michael Pedergnana
Michael is an invaluable member of the community when it comes to keeping our town clean.
He has always maintained respect for the environment, working tirelessly for many years to keep his surrounding areas and community free some rubbish, leaves or weeds. Michael can be found every day, rain or shine, spending hours cleaning the streets in South Broken Hill.
Despite physical setbacks from his asthma, he works selflessly to create an environment the city can be proud to show visitors. In his spare time, you will also find Michael volunteering for St Vincent De Paul's.
Event Award - Centenary Commemoration of the Death of Percy Brookfield (1921)
The Centenary Commemoration of the Death of Percy Brookfield (1921) was held 27 March 2021.
Sulphide Street Railway & Historical Museum volunteers, alongside the Broken Hill Civic Orchestra, Pipers Curtis Brothers and Jason King and his acting group delivered an excellent show that both entertained and acknowledged Percy Brookfield's important place in Broken Hill's union and political history.
Sporting Award (Group) – Broken Hill Lawn Bowls Groundsmen (North and Zinc Bowling Clubs)
These passionate and active volunteer committee groups have developed the Broken Hill North Bowling Club into a state-of-the-art bowling complex. The committee were successful in acquiring a large grant to install electric shade sails, new bowling green, and artificial turf surrounds in 2018.
Committee members also voluntarily provide bar service to their members and visitors and even the President has a dual role as cleaner.
The committee are continually looking for innovative ideas and one example is the introduction of 'Bare Foot Bowls' as an incentive for younger members of the community to share the recreational and social interaction the club provides.
Sporting Award (Individual) – Steven Moore
Steve's volunteer story starts back in 1987, having volunteered with the SES until 2000. From 2001 to 2011, Steve was a Coach at Seaton Swim Club in Adelaide, while also volunteering with the Henley Beach Life Saving Club.
More locally, Steve's name has been synonymous with the Broken Hill Aquatic Swim Club, having severed as a Head Coach since 2012. As a life member of the club, Steve is passionate about helping young people reach the best of their ability. He supports them in any way possible, including travelling for any carnivals or swim meets.
Steve's sporting passion is not limited to just coaching, he has been known to sell tickets, source prizes for raffles, cook a BBQ, supply drinks and pizza after training sessions and, most importantly, offer many words of encouragement to the members and family of his club.
Nydia Edes Hall of Fame Award – Lorraine and Ray Sartori
Lorraine Sartori and Ray Sartori have an incredible 60-year volunteer history within our city.
Lorraine and Ray's 4 boys attended the Marist Brother School where both became involved in the Picton Oval and Mothers' Club respectively. Ray oversaw maintenance on the mowers and the watering system.
Lorraine and Ray also volunteered with soccer. Ray was instrumental in introducing soccer at the Marist Brothers School. He started with four willing team members - his four sons - and then approached parents of other boys wanting to try out for soccer. With a team formed, Ray and Lorraine would pick up members of the team every Saturday morning and transported them to Lamb Oval, while also raising money for uniforms, washing uniforms for the under 5 to under 14 teams, and provided an annual picnic for players and families from funds acquired by collecting bottles from clubs and hotels.
Ray was also instrumental in the establishment of O'Neill Park where he and BHCC Engineer Brian McAuley initially mowed much of the area with hand mowers. Ray moved an old shed from a friend's place and rebuilt it at O'Neill Park from where he and Lorraine sold pasties on game day. Meanwhile as this complex developed both Ray and Lorraine were involved with other duties such canteen duty, toilet cleaning and collecting bottles for revenue.
Later, Lorraine and Ray commenced volunteering with Broken Hill Meals on Wheels in 1991. For over 30 years, they have worked as a team to cheerfully deliver meals to those in need. They continued all through the Covid pandemic and were appreciative of the proactive approach and covid safety plans put in place, allowing them to continue this service when it was needed most.
They are also recognised for their volunteer service at the Sulphide Street Railway & Historical Museum. They commenced volunteering at the museum back in 1991 and with the wealth of knowledge they both possess; they are recognised as true ambassadors for the city.
