The State Government is lending a helping hand to organisations around the State to put on events for Thank a Volunteer Day.
A total of $29,141.80 in grant funding will support Thank a Volunteer Day events and activities, to acknowledge the important role volunteers play in our communities.
Organisations and local government authorities from Exmouth to Bremer Bay have been funded to run events to mark the day, on December 5.
Grants of up to $1,000 have been awarded to 30 eligible organisations to deliver a range of events including award ceremonies, workshops, seminars, morning and afternoon teas and excursions.
The United Nations designated December 5 each year as International Volunteer Day - known in WA as Thank a Volunteer Day - in 1985.
As stated by Volunteering Minister Reece Whitby:
"I speak to volunteers from different communities and all walks of life, but one thing they have in common is that being a volunteer brings out the best in people.
"The Thank a Volunteer Day Grants Program supports communities in acknowledging and celebrating the generous contribution of Western Australia's volunteers.
"People can volunteer in a huge range of ways. It can include working with the local emergency services; a volunteer-involving organisation or being part of a corporate organisation's volunteering program.
"It can also be less formal, such as coaching the local kids' footy team or helping out in the school canteen.
"Volunteers contribute significantly toward the economic and social development of our society and in a sense, volunteering is the largest industry in WA."
Thank a Volunteer Day WA 2021 Grant Recipients
| Organisation | Project Name | Project Description | Region |
| Shire of Shark Bay | Thank a Volunteer Day Award Ceremony | The Shire of Shark Bay will invite all volunteers in the community to attend an award ceremony to publicly recognise and celebrate their contributions to society. The Shire President will present certificates to volunteers to thank them. All volunteers will be asked to register to ensure they receive an acknowledgement at the event and family members of the volunteers will be encouraged to attend the event to celebrate with the volunteers. | Gascoyne |
| Shire of Exmouth | Exmouth Thank a Volunteer Day | Shire of Exmouth will hold the Exmouth Thank a Volunteer day to bring together the volunteers from the Exmouth community and sporting groups for a free BBQ dinner and live entertainment, to celebrate and acknowledge the voluntary work they do. | Gascoyne |
| Shire of Ravensthorpe | Thank a Volunteer Event | Shire of Ravensthorpe will host Thank a Volunteer Event. This event will allow the Shire to bring together their volunteers and give an opportunity to acknowledge the important and pivotal part volunteers play in the Community. The sundowner event will bring the volunteers together in a relaxed and friendly event to be recognised and enjoy some food and drink together. | Goldfields/Esperance |
| Shire of Coolgardie | "Thank a Volunteer Award" | The Shire of Coolgardie will host their first "Thank a Volunteer Award" ceremony to acknowledge and showcase volunteers within their Shire. A sundowner will be planned with official speeches from the Shire President and the Kalgoorlie Boulder Volunteer Centre to speak on the importance of volunteers in regional towns. All volunteer groups and individuals will be invited as a thank you for their service within the community. Nominations will also be taken prior to the official award ceremony and winners will be announced at the ceremony. | Goldfields/Esperance |
| Albany & Regional Volunteer Service Inc | Thank a Volunteer Day BBQ | Albany & Regional Volunteer Service Inc. will host a Thank a Volunteer Day BBQ to listen to two local music groups and "Gardening Tips" by Yann. They will work with local students who are volunteering to make a pizza oven at the site, which they hope to open on the day, showcasing what youth volunteers can create for the community. | Great Southern |
| Shire of Katanning | Twilight Picnic dinner | The Shire of Katanning will hold a Twilight Picnic dinner to thank all their volunteers in Katanning and ensure they feel valued and appreciated. Working with local vendors, they will create the perfect evening which will include music, a ceremony to acknowledge our volunteers, great food, and a delicious desert table. In the lead up to the event the Community Resource Centre will run a campaign to collect messages of thanks from the community. | Great Southern |
| Wellstead Community Resource Centre | Thank You Wellstead Volunteers | Wellstead Community Resource Centre will host a Thank You Wellstead Volunteers event. The event will be an inclusive community dinner to celebrate the role and importance of volunteers in the community. | Great Southern |
| Bremer Bay Community Resource Centre Inc. | Thank a Volunteer 2021 | Bremer Bay Community Resource Centre Inc. will host a morning tea at the Museum Café to celebrate and acknowledge the contribution of the volunteers to the communities, as a way to thank the volunteers. | Great Southern |
| Mowanjum Aboriginal Corporation | Thanks, you mob! | Mowanjum Aboriginal Corporation will host the Thanks, you mob! event. This event will acknowledge and award a number of people from within Mowanjum Community who have worked extensively as volunteers and include a dinner for all community members to celebrate. | Kimberley |
| Shire of Coorow | Celebrating Thank a Volunteer Day 2022 | The Shire of Coorow, together with the Coorow and Leeman and Green Head Community Resource Centres, will host Celebrating Thank a Volunteer Day 2022 and Summer Party Awards Ceremony in both Coorow and Leeman to recognise all the time and effort that volunteers contribute to these three towns within the Shire of Coorow. The Shire President or one of the Councillors and the Shire CEO will Present a certificate to the volunteers. | Mid-West |
| Shire of Mundaring | Celebrating Community | The Shire of Mundaring will hold Celebrating Community to recognise the enormous value volunteers, local businesses and community champions add to the health and wellbeing of the community, and to acknowledge the support provided by their families. The event incorporates the presentation of awards in four categories: Inspirational Volunteer, Long Service, Rising Star and Access Mundaring (access and inclusion). This year, the award ceremony will take place as part of a larger community expo, incorporating stalls/activities run by volunteer groups, providing networking opportunities between groups and the wider community. Participating groups will also have an opportunity to raise awareness, and to recruit new members and volunteers. | North East Metropolitan |
| Live To Tell Your Story Inc | Thank a Volunteer Celebration | Live To Tell Your Story Inc. will hold Thank a Volunteer Celebration event. This celebration would include a barbecue and beverages prepared and served. The Bassendean Mayor, as well as MLA Dave Kelly will be invited to address the volunteers, with a presentation of certificates. | North East Metropolitan |
| Perth Region NRM (Inc) | End of Year Thank A Volunteer Day | Perth Region NRM (Inc) will host End of Year Thank A Volunteer Day, a celebratory event to acknowledge the region's extraordinary Landcare volunteers. Partnering with Perth NRM and City of Swan, the event is open to Landcare volunteers in Perth's Eastern Region represented by seven catchment groups and numerous Friends groups. The feature of the evening will be volunteers showcasing their love of nature as they present "their story". An opportunity for volunteers to shine in the glory of their achievements. A sundowner will provide food for the volunteers and provide a valuable networking opportunity for the volunteers across the region. | North East Metropolitan |
| Serpentine Jarrahdale Community Resource Centre Inc. | Twilight Thank-a Volunteer BBQ | Serpentine Jarrahdale Community Resource Centre Inc. will hold a Twilight Thank a Volunteer BBQ. The barbecue is to celebrate the volunteers, with many groups being on board. The Chairperson will give a speech to recognise and thank all volunteers in attendance. | South East Metropolitan |
| Coastal Waste Warriors Inc. | Mandurah Environmental Volunteers Celebration Event | Coastal Waste Warriors Inc will host the Mandurah Environmental Volunteers Celebration Event. This event will acknowledge the significant work undertaken by environmental volunteers in the Mandurah Local Government Area. The formal part of the program, MC'd by a local dignitary, will showcase their work and contribution to Mandurah through a selection of videos of their activities, with the contribution of each volunteer organisation being individually acknowledged and their members thanked. This will be followed by an afternoon tea and static displays of each organisation's work, facilitating a sharing of ideas and mutual support and encouragement. The media will be invited to the event to facilitate a more widespread acknowledgement of volunteer contributions. | Peel |
| Shire of Boddington | Morning Tea and Awards | The Shire of Boddington will host a morning tea and awards event. Combining a morning tea with an award ceremony, which will enable a level of recognition that has not been undertaken previously. The award nomination process in the lead up will not only recognise current volunteers but also encourage new volunteers to actively contribute to the community. A digital image display of the various volunteer groups will be live throughout the event. A light morning tea and live music will ensure an enjoyable atmosphere. | Peel |
| Harvey Community Radio | Volunteering Together | Harvey Community Radio will hold the Volunteering Together event. The event will bring all community volunteers together in one place to celebrate and showcase their achievements. Each group will have an opportunity to deliver a short 10 to 15 minute presentation describing their volunteer contribution with an opportunity to recognise exceptional work by an individual or group. This will be recorded and developed into a podcast for community access. Shire of Harvey's representatives will be invited to formally thank volunteers. All groups will receive a certificate of appreciation which will be framed for display. | South-West |
| Walpole Community Resource Centre Inc. | Thank a Volunteer Day and Blessing of the Fleet | Walpole Community Resource Centre Inc. will hold the Thank a Volunteer Day and Blessing of the Fleet. The event celebrates workers dedicating their time and energy to keeping the town afloat without a dollar in return. They will run an expo and provide a morning tea. As the summer holidays roll in, it's time to remind people of the importance of community volunteering and emergency services. | South-West |
| Manjimup Community Resource Centre Inc. | Volunteer Network Forum | Manjimup Community Resource Centre Inc. will hold the Volunteer Network Forum to celebrate the role of Manjimup and District volunteers. Along with providing a celebratory day and meal for community volunteers to enjoy, they will hold an engagement session to address a common problem causing concern and anxiety for all volunteer groups, which are predominantly seniors: who can we pass the volunteering baton onto? Opportunities to think and problem solve as a community are rare, so this is a precious window to exchange thoughts, ideas and find solutions. | South-West |
| Brunswick Junction Community Resource Centre Inc. | Brunswick Thank a Volunteer Day | Brunswick Junction Community Resource Centre Inc. will hold the Brunswick Thank a Volunteer Day event to recognise and acknowledge their volunteers. The aim is to provide an evening of fun entertainment, refreshments and socialising so the volunteers can sit back and relax - to thank them for everything they do for the wider community. | South-West |
| Shire of Capel | Thank a Volunteer Day Breakfast 2021 | The Shire of Capel will hold a Thank a Volunteer Day Breakfast 2021, in recognition of the amazing work and effort provided to the local community by their groups of volunteers. Every community group and sporting club within the Shire of Capel will be asked to nominate two representatives from their organisation to attend the breakfast. | South-West |
| Shire of Augusta-Margaret River | MAR Shire- 2021 Thank a Volunteer Day Celebration | Shire of Augusta-Margaret River will host the MAR Shire-2021 Thank a Volunteer Day Celebration event to publicly acknowledge and celebrate the diverse and vital roles volunteers play within the local community which includes a Volunteer of the Year and Youth Volunteer of the Year Awards ceremony. Local community members will be able to submit nominations for review by an independent panel. All nominees and award recipients are acknowledged at the event and receive a certificate and gift. | South-West |
| Dunsborough and Districts Progress Association Inc | Dunsborough - Thank A Volunteer | Dunsborough and Districts Progress Association Inc. will be bringing the community and the many volunteers together, to acknowledge their enormous contribution to their community. The event will be marketed as a "Thank a Volunteer Day" event where they will outline the many people and organisations doing amazing work for the good of the community, for the environment and wildlife. | South-West |
| Shire of Chittering | Thank a Volunteer Day BBQ | The Shire of Chittering will host the Chittering Thank A Volunteer Day BBQ event. There will be an afternoon of games and celebration for volunteers and their families. They will be inviting volunteers from all community organisations and asking them to recognise the achievements of up to 3 of their volunteers on the night as part of a presentation. They will also be placing a Thank You to their volunteers in the local paper in November as preparation for Thank a Volunteer Day in December. They hope to also identify and invite as many non-group-based volunteers as possible to the event. | Wheatbelt |
| Wyalkatchem Community Resource Centre Inc. | Volunteer Breakfast | Wyalkatchem Community Resource Centre Inc. will hold the Volunteer Breakfast for numerous volunteer groups within the shire to thank them for their valuable work through the year. This will include a guided tour through the Wyalkatchem Agricultural Museum. | Wheatbelt |
| Merredin Community Resource Centre Inc | A Night at the Theatre | Merredin Community Resource Centre Inc. will host A Night at the Theatre where the volunteers can enjoy each other's company while being entertained at the Cummins Theatre, for a performance by Theatre 180 "Sydney II: lost and found". Antipasto plates and soft drinks will be provided, along with a bus service to and from the theatre. | Wheatbelt |
| Wickepin Community Resource Centre Inc. | Thank a Volunteer Day with Dinner & a Movie | Wickepin Community Resource Centre Inc. will host the Thank a Volunteer Day with Dinner & A Movie to thank their volunteers and celebrate the vital work that they do. The event will take place at the Wickepin Community Centre. This will give their volunteers a chance to come together in a relaxed setting to spend some time with other members of their community. They will have the opportunity to engage with the attendees on a one-on-one basis when they collect their meal. | Wheatbelt |
| Westonia Community Resource Centre Inc. | A Night on the Green for Thank a Volunteer Day 2021 | Westonia Community Resource Centre Inc. and Westonia Shire will publicly acknowledge volunteers by hosting a barbecue and bowls evening to thank their volunteers for hours of donated time, making the community vibrant, engaged and an enjoyable place to live. Demographics of Westonia rely on the diverse array of skills and knowledge their volunteers have to offer. Volunteers will enjoy a night of relaxation and fun while receiving recognition for their valuable contributions made within the community throughout the year. To raise the profile of the event, their CEO will be the guest speaker for the evening, and will be providing an insight into how volunteer organisations work together in regional and remote communities. | Wheatbelt |
| Shire of Cuballing | Cuballing Thank a Volunteer Day 2021 | The Shire of Cuballing will host a Thank a Volunteer Day BBQ for community volunteers. Certificate of appreciation will be awarded to all local community groups, individuals, and volunteer groups from Cuballing and surrounding towns. | Wheatbelt |
| Shire of Kondinin | Meet & Greet Day | The Shire of Kondinin will hold a Meet & Greet Day event. The event will seek nominations from community groups and individuals who have volunteered their time for the Kondinin and Hyden communities. The event will incorporate a meet and greet for all new residents. The event will be held in both Hyden and Kondinin, the two main towns in the Shire. | Wheatbelt |
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