Friday 20 May 202 2
WINNERS OF THE 2022 VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AWARDS
REVEALED
The winners of the 2022 City of Ryde Volunteer Recognition Awards – including the first ever Community
Hero recipients – were announced at a ceremony at Curzon Hall in Marsfield last night.
This year’s Individual Volunteer of the Year award winner was Sh eena Smith who volunteers for Riding for
the Disabled in Marsfield.
Through her volunteer work, Ms Smith helps care for the horses involved in the program as well as assist
riders with their requirements. She also helps promote the Riding for Disabled ce ntre throughout the local
community, talking to potential clients such as schools about the benefits the program can deliver to
participants.
Abby Hill was announced as the winner of th e Young Volunteer of the Year award for her volunteer work
with care and disability services. This includes helping organise the Everybody Dance Now Discos.
assist ing the Royal Rehab lifestyle choir with rehearsals and performances, and volunteer ing for sailing
disability organisation, Sailability.
Ryde Secondary College student, Ella Marcellino, received a Young Special Commendation award for her
significant contribution to school improvement and student engagement.
The Stryder Social and Shopping Bus Volunteers were named the Group Volunteer of the Year. The
dedicated group of volunteers accompany Stryder’s clients on their shopping and social outings each
week, helping ensure each client can continue to live independently and lead well -balanced lives.
This year’s City of Ryde Volunteer Recognition Awards also featured a new Community Heroes award
categor y, which recognises a selection of community members – both past and present – who have
contributed to the sense of community in the City of Ryde.
The inaug ural recipients of the Community Heroes award were.
• Barry Budd • Philip Brown • Leasa Clark
• Rochelle Keshishian • Susan Nocom • Kedarnath Pagaddinnimath
• Barry Parsons • Helen Pegler • Kathy Tracy
• Shaun Warden
City of Ryde Mayor, Clr Jordan Lane, congratulated all award recipients and nominees.
“The Volunteer Recognition Awards are a great way for us to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of all of
our wonderful volunteers who devote countless hours to helping t hose in our community who need
assistance,” Clr Lane said.
