- Seven winners announced from 240 nominations – recognising Western Australia’s most inspiring volunteers
- WA Volunteer of the Year Awards are hosted by Volunteering WA, the peak body for volunteering
- In 2024, 21 Finalists were selected from 240 nominations, with seven winners announced
Volunteering WA was honoured to announce and celebrate the seven outstanding winners of the 2024 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards on Thursday 23 May in Perth, during National Volunteer Week (20 – 26 May).
More than 300 volunteers, managers, and volunteer involving organisations attended the Awards with special addresses from His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM, Governor of Western Australia; and the Hon Don Punch MLA, Minister for Volunteering.
The awards recognise the inspiring contributions made by volunteers and organisations each year across seven different categories. In 2024, 21 finalists were shortlisted from 240 remarkable nominations.
Tina Williams, CEO of Volunteering WA, expressed her gratitude for the passion, dedication and generosity that volunteers provide to the WA community.
“Hearing the stories, impact and dedication that each of the 2024 Volunteering WA winners demonstrates is truly awe-inspiring. Volunteers show us that anything is possible, and that helping one another is how we meet the challenges we face in our society,” said Tina.
“Volunteering is at the heart of the Australian community; and there truly is something for everyone. Whether you’re drawn to environmental causes, community outreach, education, or beyond, there’s a place where your interests can flourish and you can take action to make the world a better place.
With more than 1.5million volunteers in Western Australia, Volunteering WA’s role is to empower people and communities through volunteering.
Nominations for the WA Volunteer of the Year Awards open in January each year, and information can be found at awards.volunteeringwa.org.au.
Congratulations! 2024 Volunteering WA Award Winners
Peter Geraghty
RAC WA Volunteer of the Year
Peter Geraghty provides superior leadership through his role as the secretary/treasurer of the St John WA – Kununoppin Sub Centre, which covers 18,000kms and is one of the largest in WA. Peter ensures that even while maintaining his own full-time business, the operations of the sub centre take priority. This is evident with the sub centre running a fleet of 12 ambulances across 6 locations, plus additional resources including a caravan, light tower and 4WD ambulance.
As a call-taker and ambulance dispatcher (a role he’s held for 40 years), Peter is on-call 24/7, which he juggles alongside running his business, driving a school bus, and family obligations.
Presented by RAC
Zac Cawdron
WA Young Volunteer of the Year
In the face of personal adversity, Zac Cawdron not only endured but emerged as an inspiring force in the Western Australian community throughout 2023. At 24 years of age, Zac is a young person who wears various hats in the mental health and community sector. He has volunteered as a youth representative and committee member with the Youth at Risk Network – known as YARN since 2020 and became chair in December 2021. YARN is a youth-led collection of service providers that support young people with a range of issues such as mental health, alcohol and other drug misuse, homelessness, sexual health, out of home care and more.
Presented by Stan Perron Charitable Foundation
Alanagh Godderidge
WA Excellence in Volunteer Management
As the founder and CEO of Motion by the Ocean, Alanagh Godderidge is a pioneer of the ‘Cycling Without Age’ movement in Western Australia. Led by Alanagh, Motion by the Ocean helps senior citizens and people with disabilities connect to their community through free volunteer-driven trishaw rides along Perth’s northern coast. Through Alanagh’s leadership of 43 active volunteers, last year Motion by the Ocean provided 920 rides for 1,800 participants, travelling 11,500 kms! The organisation’s Moving Food program also delivered 11,000+ meals to seniors and vulnerable individuals living within our community.
Presented by Aon
Joan Ward
WA Lifetime Contribution to Volunteering
Joan Ward is an incredible member within the Dumbleyung, Emu Point and Albany communities. Throughout 74 years of volunteering, Joan has championed blood donation drives, ran P&C Op Shops, served on the committee of golf, badminton, tennis, waterskiing, lawn bowls, and social clubs. She’s fundraised for annual community events, the Albany Hospital shop, and a project to build cottage homes for elderly in need.
At 90 years of age, Joan is the current President of the Port of Albany Probus and has written the local Bulletin for the past 12 years.
Presented by COTA WA
First Hike Project
WA Inclusive Volunteering Award
Restarting life in a new country can be a daunting experience. Being in an unfamiliar location, a
different culture, with few if any connections, and no choice but to learn a new language. With 24 active volunteers in WA, First Hike Project volunteers arrange everything to make free day hikes and camping experiences available for newly arrived youth of migrant and refugee backgrounds, as a way to introduce them to beautiful the Western Australian landscape and connect with nature and community.
The project involves huge amounts of work from engaging with schools; meeting prospective participants; coordinating applications, hiking routes, meals, equipment, transport, first aid officers – and of course the best part – leading the hikes and engaging with young participants from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
Presented by Volunteering WA
Worthy Australia
WA Community Volunteer Organisation of the Year
How do you start again when you have nothing to your name? That’s where Worthy Australia comes in.
Throughout 2023, Worthy Australia’s team of 80 passionate volunteers worked tirelessly to transform 34 vacant houses into fully furnished, decorated and functioning HOMES for 34 women and 75 children escaping domestic violence.
The impact of Worthy Australia’s volunteers is nothing short of remarkable. They not only doubled their social media following, gained major sponsors and secured grants – they most importantly collected, purchased and placed thousands of items needed to transform houses into safe haven homes.
Supported by Lotterywest
Bankwest
WA Excellence in Corporate Volunteering
Bankwest is an Australian bank based in Perth, Western Australia, supporting the Western Australian community for 127 years. Bankwest’s corporate volunteering program is a core element of its community investment strategy, as well as its People Value Proposition for employees.
Bankwest colleagues volunteer an average of 7,000 hours every year, but in 2023 this jumped to 9,000 hours, with the addition of new volunteering campaigns. Last year, Bankwest employees volunteered with over 20 charities and community groups.
Volunteering generates pride amongst employees that Bankwest is a socially responsible organisation that gives back to those in need and is a great place to work.
Presented by NeonLogic
