Andrew Heslop is named the 2012 Sydney City East Volunteer of the Year
Andrew Heslop – Creator of Neighbor Day
Communities highly profit from the immense work their volunteers accomplish on an everyday basis. To recognize their efforts and achievement an annual NSW Volunteer of the Year Award is given away by The Centre for Volunteering. Before this there are preliminary decisions in nineteen different regions across NSW. On November the 13th of November the 2012 Sydney City East Volunteer of the Year Award Ceremony was held at Coogee Diggers Club.
Andrew Heslop of Double Bay was named the 2012 Sydney City East Volunteer of the Year for founding the Neighbor Day, Australia’s annual celebration of community, feted on the last Sunday of March each year. Andrew started this event in 2003 when the body of an elderly woman was discovered in her home two years after she had passed away. Apparently nobody had cared about her well-being as piles of mail, store catalogues and newspapers accrued in front of her door.
Andrew was unable to attend the Ceremony due to work commitments but send an acceptance speech to be read on his behalf: “I accept this award and dedicate it to the memory of Elsie Brown who was my inspiration in founding Neighbor Day in Melbourne in 2003, and my late neighbor Clive Tayler. Wherever we live, whatever our circumstances, our neighbors are there for us in good times and in bad. Too often we forget that a friendly smile and a ‘how are you today?’ can mean the world to a single person living alone, who has no other interaction with their community. It doesn’t take much effort to keep an eye out for an elderly or vulnerable neighbor who could easily be our parent, grandparent or friend. Thank you for awarding Neighbor Day and I this honor – because the community you want really does start at your front door.”
As the winner of his region, Andrew Heslop did not only gain $300 in favor of his project, but is now in the running for the NSW Volunteer of the Year Award. If he succeeds there, he will receive a $1,500 donation for the benefit of Neighbor Day. Youth, Senior and Team of the Year will each receive a $1,000 donation.
Other Award winners announced at the ceremony are:
– Alisha King of Camperdown – 2012 Sydney City East Youth Volunteer of the Year
– Alex Selig of Rose Bay – 2012 Sydney City East Senior Volunteer of the Year
– SISTER2sister Volunteers – 2012 Sydney City East Volunteer Team of the Year
Each of them received a $200 donation for their organizations.
Two special awards were presented to:
– Nicole James of Coogee – 2012 Sydney City East Highly Commended Volunteer of the Year Award.
– Victims and Witnesses of Crime Court Support Volunteer Team – 2012 Sydney City East Highly Commended Volunteer Team of the Year Award.
Apart from that several other individual volunteers were recognized for their outstanding community work.
If you would like to find out more about the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards click HERE or to find out more about The Centre for Volunteering click HERE.
To visit the official website of Neighbor Day click HERE.