Local Mid West and Gascoyne councils and organisations awarded funding for Thank a Volunteer Day events

A bunch of Mid West and Gascoyne organisations and local councils have been awarded funding to help celebrate their community’s unsung heroes — volunteers.

Volunteering Minister Don Punch last week announced 72 successful grant recipients will receive funding of $70,000 to help mark Thank a Volunteer Day 2023.

Locally, those who received funding to stage events include the shires of Exmouth, Carnarvon, Shark Bay, Perenjori, Three Springs and Cue as well as Geraldton’s Regional Sounds, Centacare Family Services, Leeman and Green Head Community Resource Centre, Mullewa Community Resource Centre and Mingenew Community Telecentre.

The United Nations designated December 5 as International Volunteer Day in 1985. In WA, it is known as Thank a Volunteer Day.

The grants will help the Mid West and Gascoyne organisations put on events and activities such as a black tie dinner, movie night, morning and afternoon teas, barbecues, award ceremonies, sundowners and a live music night.

Mr Punch said it was important to take the time to acknowledge the contributions of volunteers “who give selflessly in service of their community”.

“Volunteers are the glue that keep many communities together and it’s fantastic to come together at the end of the year and celebrate all that they have achieved,” he said.