Photo: From left Peter Hanson, Mayor Margaret Thomas and Saxon Marrell cutting the 2020 Thank a Volunteer Day cake

Prior to the catered lunch, Mayor Margaret Thomas thanked attendees and acknowledged those who couldn’t make it.

“We often try to calculate the cash value of our volunteers but that only tells one side of the story,” Cr Thomas said.

“Being a volunteer adds up too much more than the sum of all the parts and the truth is as a community we couldn’t afford to pay our volunteers their true worth.

“We’re so grateful for all that you do and give, and I think it’s important to acknowledge your contributions are significant.”

The lunch event was also an opportunity to announce the City’s 2020 Local Hero of the Year Award recipients.

The Young Hero of the Year was awarded to Saxon Marrell, a mental health advocate, Telethon Kids Connect Program ambassador and a volunteer teacher at his Tae Kwon Do class in Forrestfield where he donates his time to help younger children learn new skills and increase their confidence.

Craig and Sharon McCarthy were awarded the Community Local Hero award for their tireless volunteering at the Kalamunda United Soccer where following club training they coach three all-ability teams.

This year, the City announced two Senior Hero of the Year awards to deserving recipients – Bev Morris and Peter Hanson.

Ms Morris is well known in the local community for the breadth of her volunteering including 27 years as a volunteer tutor with the ReadWriteNow Program and a raft of other volunteering roles including the CWA, Scouts, Lesmurdie Arts and Crafts Group, Kalamunda Spinners and the Kalamunda Stained Glass Group.

While Mr Hansen was recognised for his commitment to the Kalamunda Districts Basketball Association and the many milestones, funding applications and meeting attendance since the 1980s.

Find more information here on volunteering opportunities in the City or alternatively, please phone (08) 9257 9999 or email enquiries@kalamunda.wa.gov.au.

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