City of Rockingham awards young volunteer for his contribution to Rockingham Flames

As part of National Volunteer Week 2023, the City of Rockingham has this year marked their annual Volunteer Recognition evening with the introduction of a new awards ceremony to help the City best recognise some of its most outstanding volunteers.

Eighteen finalists featured across six volunteer categories, with winners selected by a judging panel. The awards ceremony and annual Volunteer Recognition Evening were held on 18th May 2023 in the City’s Reception Room at its Administration Building.

Young Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Jacob Heath for his contribution in supporting the Rockingham Flames -  an NBL1 West club based in Perth.

Rockingham Flames congratulated Heath and posted on Facebook “Jacob Heath is the epitome of a volunteer. At only 19 years of age Jacob has been a volunteer with the Flames for several years and is always willing to lend a hand.

“Jacob has for the last few years has been the leader of our grass roots, Aussie Hoops program for the Rockingham Flames as well as helping organise and run the holiday camps. Jacob has enriched the lives of many younger athletes by helping them to learn the game of basketball and is looked up to by many younger than him.

“Jacob has positively impacted the lives of many children as he has shown them that sport is a way to be a part of a group. Many of the children that Jacob has taught have gone on to play in domestic and even elite pathway teams. He is a mentor to many junior basketball players within the Rockingham Flames programs.

“Congratulations Jacob, your Flames Family is very proud of you!”

City of Rockingham awarded Volunteer of the Year to Mabel Laidlaw, who has dedicated 20 years to the Rockingham Sound Day VIEW Club, said she was honoured to be recognised. The Rockingham Sound Day VIEW Club supports the Smith Family’s Learning for Life Program, which financially supports disadvantaged children with their education. Since 2003 Mabel has been instrumental in driving the group’s growth. 

Laidlaw shared “I’m very honoured to get the award but it’s never about just one person. We’ve got 70 women in the club and while I got the award it’s really thanks to the efforts of everyone. It wouldn’t happen without them.

“We’ve been to graduation ceremonies and seen the work the Smith Family are doing with these students thanks to funding that we’ve provided, which is always an incentive to keep going. It creates a whole new lifestyle for the students and really opens up their future.”

Mabel has also volunteered in other roles with the help of the City of Rockingham’s Volunteer Centre (RVC), and encouraged anyone thinking of volunteering in the community to reach out to the RVC.

Switched on Seniors, which won the award for Community Volunteer Organisation of the Year, is a group dedicated to teaching technology skills to seniors.

Founder Sheena Edwards said Switched on Seniors was focused on creating a community of seniors who can support each other in a world where technology is changing rapidly.

Edwards added “It’s very fulfilling because we can see people’s lives transform. Previously they were feeling frustrated, alienated from society, and they were almost feeling hopeless. With Switched on Seniors, we can see immediate benefits.

Sheena said a $4,000 grant provided by the City through its Community Grants Program had been significant in helping Switched on Seniors become a much-loved support group, which now holds regular sessions at the City’s Autumn Centre and also at Shoalwater Church Hall. 

Mayor Deb Hamblin congratulated the winners and thanked all volunteers for being the heart of the community.

“This year’s theme for National Volunteer Week is ‘The Change Makers’ and our Volunteer Recognition Evening was the perfect opportunity to celebrate the positive change local volunteers make. We thank them for sharing their passion, expertise and time in helping to make our community a fabulous place to live,” Mayor Hamblin said. 

The full list of winners included:

• Volunteer of the Year – Mabel Laidlaw (Rockingham Sound Day VIEW Club).

• Young Volunteer of the Year – Jacob Heath (Rockingham Flames).

• Senior Volunteer of the Year – Lyn Meredith (Rockingham Kwinana SES).

• Community Volunteer Organisation of the Year – Switched on Seniors.

• People Who Make a Difference – Helen Williams (Rockingham Uniting Church).

• Act Belong Commit – Barbara Sciesinski (Rockingham Community Garden). 

For more information on volunteering visit rockingham.wa.gov.au/community/volunteering

Image top: Jacob Heath (Young Volunteer of the Year) with Cr Dawn Jecks; Image above: City of Rockingham elected members celebrate with the award winners and nominated finalists at the Volunteer Recognition Evening. Credit: City of Rockingham