Byron Bay News
Byron Bay community worker named 2023 NSW Northern Rivers Volunteer of the Year
Byron Bay community worker named 2023 NSW Northern Rivers Volunteer of the Year
Fletcher Street Cottage community worker Amanda Peters has been named the 2023 Northern Rivers Volunteer of the Year, for her personal commitment and support for the growing number of people sleeping rough throughout the Byron Bay region.
The recognition is part of the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards, one of the largest celebrations of volunteering across the country.
The awards are run by The Centre for Volunteering to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of volunteers working across all sections of communities throughout the state.
The Northern Rivers regional award winners for individual and team categories were also announced today at a special ceremony in Tweed Heads.
2023 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award recipients for the Northern Rivers region are:
Young Volunteer of the Year – Justine Foldi from Tweed Heads
Nineteen-year-old Justine Foldi gives her time with the Agape Outreach Service Op Shop, helping to sort clothes and household items for sale.
Money raised from the shop is the main source of funding for the outreach service, which helps people in need, or without a home, with hot meals, laundry and showering, hampers, job-ready training and access to other community services. Justine’s volunteering helps Agape provide support to people in need from the border to Byron Bay.
Adult Volunteer of the Year – John Maloney from Lismore
North Coast Radio volunteer presenter John Maloney has been helping people stay connected with vital community services, support, and emergency information for more than forty years.
The community radio presenter volunteers twice a week, also helping to raise money for local causes and to protect and share local Lismore history via his community Facebook page. John is a vital source of information during emergency events. He continued to broadcast during the recent devastating floods in 2022 until he was rescued by boat.
Northern Rivers – Amanda Peters (Senior)
Senior Volunteer of the Year – Amanda Peters from Byron Bay
Amanda Peters coordinates the work of 40 volunteers at the Fletcher Street Cottage in Byron Bay, providing cooked meals and fresh food, emergency relief and referrals, and showers and laundry facilities for people sleeping rough or in need of help.
She provides an extra level of care and understanding for people and their personal adversity and circumstances that help to restore dignity, improve well-being, and connect people with life-changing services.
Volunteer Team of the Year – The Pink Ladies – Tweed Heads
The nine members of the Pink Ladies volunteer team operate a laundry service for patients in need at the Tweed Heads Hospital, washing, folding, and delivering more than 20 loads of washing over two days each week.
The team also helps hospital staff with administrative tasks and organising equipment, as well as providing companionship to patients and visitors.
The Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate said:
“Volunteers from across the Northern Rivers give their time and energy to help make their local community a better place. They help build healthy and well-connected communities across the region.
“Their tireless work helps support people across health, education, sporting, and community sectors. Our awards recognise their work and give us the chance to say thank you.”
The awards are supported by principal partners the NSW Department of Communities and Justice and ClubsNSW, which represents the state’s 1,100 not-for-profit clubs.
NSW Minister with responsibility for Volunteering Jodie Harrison said:
“I am immensely proud of the dedication and commitment to community that we see each year from volunteers across the state.
“The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards shine a light on these selfless efforts. Congratulations to today’s award recipients.”
ClubsNSW CEO Rebecca Riant said:
“With more than 30,000 selfless individuals volunteering their time in clubs across NSW, we understand the incredible lengths that volunteers go to support and strengthen their local communities.
“The volunteers honoured by these awards truly deserve the recognition they receive and continue to be an inspiration to us all.”
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