Local volunteers were celebrated for their contribution to our region at Aaron Violi MP’s 2026 Casey Community Awards.
Held on Saturday 30 May, the awards were officiated by lifelong Wandin local and Wandin Toastmaster, Nola Sharp, and catered by local social enterprise, TastyAz.
Mr Violi said it was an honour to recognise so many wonderful volunteers from every corner of our region.
“Our community owes its strength and warmth to the incredible people who quietly show up every day and give selflessly without ever asking for anything in return. We have such a strong spirit of volunteerism at the core of our community, and these awards are a small way to give back and say thank you to those who give so much of themselves to others,” Mr Violi said.
The awards ceremony concluded with a surprise Casey Community Award for officiant, Nola Sharp, who was nominated by Aaron Violi MP for her incredible service to the Wandin community.
Recipients:
Ms Lael McAvoy – Lilydale Judo Club
Mr Graeme Baker – Ben’s Shed Yarra Junction & Little Yarra CFA
Mrs Margaret Battle – Rotary Club of Lilydale
Mr Brad Bell – Lilydale Junior Football Club
Mr Michael Bertalli – Belgrave Junior Football Club, Yarra Ranges Kinders
Mr Jack Bowles – Interchange Outer East
Mrs Joanne Bracken – Healesville Connect and Healesville Toy Library
Mr Greg Burnham – Ben’s Shed in Yarra Junction
Mrs Janene Davison – Lilydale Football Netball Club
Miss Erika DePace – Mt Evelyn Caterpillar Guides and Mt Evelyn Lady Bug Guides
Ms Linda Fabb – HICCI
Mr Alex Felich – Kalorama-Mt Dandenong CFA
Mrs Barbara Foord – U3A Upper Yarra
Mrs Cheryl Forrest – Catalyst Church Lilydale
Mr Shaun Goodwin – Croydon Ranges Hockey Club, Kilsyth Cricket Club
Mr Jeremy Hardy – Yellingbo CFA
Mr Glen Higginson – Mr Excited & Friends Classic Cars Worldwide
Ms Chris Hill – Yarra Rangers National Seniors
Mrs Nadia Jefferys – Lilydale Anglican Church
Mr Andrew Jeffrey – Kilsyth Community Action Group; Kilsyth Festival, Japara House
Mr Kees Kortekaas – Monbulk District Men’s Shed
Mrs Felicity Kusanke – Holy Fools
Mrs Amanda Lakeland – Lilydale Junior Football Club
Mr Chris McAleer – Veterans for Fishing
Mr Terry McEvoy – Mindblank Mental Health
Mr Ron Mcintosh – Warburton CFA
Mr Stuart Milne – Mooroolbark Soccer Club
Mr Neil Mitchell – Holy Fools, Good Gracious Network
Mrs Mel Morgan – Lilydale Junior Football Club
Mr Ray Murphy – Lilydale & Yarra Valley Show
Ms Katt Murray – Forever Friends Animal Rescue
Mrs Nicole Neagle – Lilydale Junior Football Club
Mr Ben Neagle – Lilydale Junior Football Club
Mr John O’Donohue – Lilydale RSL Sub-branch
Mr Rod Pearse – Seville Community Precinct, Seville sporting clubs
Mrs Briony Polkinghorne – Mooroolbark Cricket Club
Mrs Elizabeth Prentice – HICCI
Mr Paul Rogers – Mountain Men
Mrs Jill Sebire – Mont De Lancey Historic Homestead
Mrs Judith Shiel – Rotary Club of Lilydale
Mr Jimmy Slattery – Lilydale RSL Sub-branch
Mr Mark Southall – Yering District Archers
Mr Ken Stanford – 1st Upwey Scouts
Mr Steve Mee – Ben’s Shed in Yarra Junction
Ms Rebecca Taylor – Powelltown Sporting Clubs
Mr Robert Thompson – Ferny Creek Recreation Reserve, Sassafras-Ferny Creek CFA
Mrs Jacqueline Thresher – Mooroolbark Salvation Army
Mrs Coby Van Weeghel – Stable One
Mrs Lysa Wheelan – HICCI
Mr Stephan Wood – Olinda CFA
Mrs Brianna Woolf – Hoddles Creek CFA, Peer Support
