52 individuals and 20 community groups had their volunteer work recognised at Aaron Violi MP’s Casey Volunteer & Community Awards recently.

The countless nominations for volunteers and community groups right across the Yarra Ranges shows just how strong our community is, with so many people working to make our community the best place to call home.

These volunteers and community groups are the people who go above and beyond to care for others, create strong townships, care for others, preserve local history, look after our environment, organise community events and support others in need.

The Awards ceremony was officiated by Nola Sharp of Wandin Toastmasters Club and catered by local social enterprise TastyAz.

Casey Community Award recipients:

• Caladenia Dementia Care
• Wandin Silvan Field Days Committee
• Lilydale & District Historical Society
• Rotary Club of Healesville
• Volunteers Golden Op Shop
• Mooroolbark Conference of St Vincent De Paul Society
• Holy Fools
• Montrose Township Group
• Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater
• Discovery Community Care
• Veterans for Fishing
• Heritage Committee of Mount Lilydale Mercy College
• HICCI – Transport Team
• Salvation Army Mooroolbark Corps – Emergency Relief Service
• Kalorama/Mt Dandenong Fire Brigade
• Candlebark Community Nursery Mooroolbark
• Healesville Sanctuary – Archive Volunteers
• Jim Fuller Community House
• Carlotta’s Treasures Op Shop
• Edible Warburton Community Garden

Casey Volunteer Award recipients:

• Neal Taylor – Holy Fools
• Peter Norman – National Servicemen’s Association of Australia Inc (Vic)
• Mark Watson – Kilsyth Cricket Club
• Simone Ritchie and Pat Natoli – Montrose Community Cupboard
• Carmen Steunenberg – Hope in the Hills Community Church
• Geoff Dawson – Mt Evelyn Fire Brigade (CFA)
• Helen Sampson – Red Cross
• Alan Bennett – Emerald Men’s Shed
• Rob Bayliss – Wandin Football Club
• Peter Brown – Healesville Tennis Club
• Peter Harris – Chirnside Park Primary School
• Monica Roitinger – Yarra Glen Op Shop
• Sharon Chuck – Rotary Club of Lilydale
• Nick Lundh – Lilydale Community Youth Hub
• Frank Longayroux – Lilydale Community Youth Hub
• Aunty Lou Baulch – Boorndawan Aboriginal Healing Service
• Kim and Daniel Walton – Mother’s Day Classic, Lilydale
• Susan Marshall – Wandin Yallock Primary School
• Judi Inglis – Rabbit Runaway Orphanage
• David Ardley – Olinda Cricket Club
• Helen and Gary Parsons – Foodstop Food Truck
• Zane Waters and Julie Dickinson – Upwey Belgrave RSL
• Andrew Ermel – Rotary, CFA & Basketball Activities
• Rhonda Carson – Caladenia Dementia Care
• Frank Haynes – Montrose Men’s Shed & service to Mooroolbark community
• Catherine Nolan – Healesville Community Festival
• Richard Moody – Lilydale & Chirnside Park CFA
• Darren Ayton – Different Journeys
• Mark Peers – Lilydale Rats Inline Hockey Club
• Gary O’Regan – Mooroolbark Boys Brigade
• Bill Dobson – Lilydale RSL
• Geoff Earney – Service to Mooroolbark community
• Graeme Black – Seville Township Group
• Graham Boyd – Hoddles Creek CFA
• Robyn Parker – Lilydale Township Action Group and Kreative Kids
• Alvin and Sonia Knight – Redwood Soup Kitchen
• Maree and Mario Campitelli – Healesville Community
• Kathy Kearns – Adcare Warburton
• Gordon Elliot – Millgrove Residents Action Group
• Kate Baselier – Millgrove Residents Action Group
• Barry Booker – Yarra Junction Fire Brigade (CFA)
• Henry Verhoeven – Healesville & Yarra Glen Community Activities
• Noel Nealon – Upwey Fire Brigade (CFA)
• Lynn and Peter Menhennitt – Discovery Community Care
• Anna Lane – Sherbrooke U3A