UNITED Way chief executive officer Geoff Sharp says volunteers are the "core of the community" and this year's Volunteer Recognition Awards are an opportunity to highlight their true value to Ballarat.
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In the lead up to the gala awards evening on May 17, judges and sponsors met at the Regent Cinemas on Thursday morning to announce the finalists.
"The idea is to give profile and recognition to volunteers within the community," Mr Sharp said.
"Without volunteers our community would stop."
Organisers recently asked residents to nominate volunteers doing remarkable things in the community and the finalists were selected from nine categories spanning youth and art to health and sport.
Mr Sharp said although the community was growing, actual levels of volunteerism were dropping and this was a challenge for Ballarat.
"The arts wouldn't happen, events wouldn't happen, sports clubs wouldn't happen, even things like elections wouldn't happen without volunteers," Mr Sharp said.
"Often times, it's only when you get those major emergencies for instance that suddenly everyone's aware of the CFA and the amazing work they do or the SES or rural ambulance volunteers," Mr Sharp said.
"We wanted to also recognise everyone who is contributing year-round...that they're not falling through the gaps."
He said there were more than 35,000 volunteers in Ballarat and the finalists were just a small representation of all the people who volunteered.
The winners will be announced during the Volunteer Recognition Awards gala at the Regent Cinemas on Saturday, May 17.
THE FINALISTS
The Courier COMMUNITY SERVICE award - individual
Bill Reynolds - Ballarat And District Community Support Register
Helen Bath - Voice FM
Liz Charles - Friends of Learmonth
The Courier COMMUNITY SERVICE award - group or organisation
Wendouree West Exodus Leadership Team
Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council
Foster Carers - CAFS Ballarat
Sovereign Hill HEALTH AND CARE award - individual
Garry West - Positive Ageing Committee - City of Ballarat
Gordon Williamson - Bowel Scan Program - Rotary Club Ballarat South
Melanie Hill - Nazareth House
Sovereign Hill HEALTH AND CARE award - group or organisation
Parent Place
Wendouree West Exodus Leadership Team
Berry Street Foster Carers
Australian Catholic University Ballarat EDUCATION award - individual
Rupert Russell - L2P Ballarat
Tony Davidson - Rode RAGE (Ride Against Greenhouse Emissions)
Atrel Turner - All secondary schools in Central Highlands region
Australian Catholic University Ballarat EDUCATION award - group or organisation
Parent Place
Wendouree West Exodus Leadership Team
Urquhart Park Primary School Reading Tutors Program
Peter Kervarec, Ballarat Professional Photography ARTS award - individual
Gordon Williamson - Ballarat Arts Foundation
Garry West - Ballarat Vocal Arts Association
Yvette Hiscock - Art Gallery of Ballarat Volunteer Guides
Peter Kervarec, Ballarat Professional Photography ARTS award - group or organisation
Voice FM
Royal South Street - "Team Archive"
The Harmonies
The WIN Network EVENT award
Friends of Ballarat Pony Club
Ballarat Relay For Life Organising Committee
RSPCA - Million Paws Walk
City of Ballarat YOUTH award - individual
Faamu Leiataua - Fed Uni Mentor program
Emily Noonan - Yummy Mummy's
Damien Ganley - Red Frogs
City of Ballarat YOUTH award - group or organisation
LARF (Life skills, Activities, Relationships and Fun) Mentors
Ballarat Youth Advisory Group - CMY
Kids with a Voice
Power FM EMERGENCY award - individual
David Wellings - SES Hepburn
Heather Turner - SES Ballarat
Peter Bright - Red Cross
Power FM EMERGENCY award - group or organisation
Ballarat Health Services Emergency Department Volunteers
Ballarat Fire Brigade
Miners Rest Rural Fire Brigade
Sports Central SPORTS award - individual
Tony Davidson - Rode RAGE (Ride Against Greenhouse Emmissions)
Stuart Bates - Special Olympics Ballarat
Anthony Hoffman - Ballarat Gold Swimming Club
Sports Central SPORTS award - group or organisation
Eureka Gymnastics Club Committee
BPSSA Volunteers
Friends of Ballarat Pony Club
