Volunteer Awards Archive 2008

A total of 13 people from across Australia received the prestigious new national Regional Arts Australia Volunteer Award at a ceremony under the stars at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station on Saturday 4 October during the art at the heart national regional arts conference dinner

The awards are brand new and are designed to give volunteers national recognition for their contribution towards the arts across regional, rural and remote Australia.

Each recipient received a beautiful artwork from Alice Springs designer Elliat Rich and a certificate designed by Katrina Allan and signed by Suzie Haslehurst, president of Regional Arts Australia, and Kathy Keele, CEO of the Australia Council for the Arts. The award included free flights, accommodation and registration to attend art at the heart in Alice Springs.

View the awards presentation photo gallery (all photos taken by Joyce Van Dijk, courtesy of Regional Arts Australia)

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Seven regional Australians received a Sustained Contribution award:

Heather Blackley for a long and outstanding contribution to the arts in Condobolin and the Lachlan arts community in NSW. Heather is chair and an inaugural member of the Lachlan Arts Council

Bev Cannell for her long and extensive contribution to the community of Rosebery  and the Tasmanian west coast.

Jenny Jones for tireless efforts to promote the arts in Central Queensland, particularly through her work on the Keppel Coast branch of the Queensland Arts Council.

Brian Castles for unsurpassed personal commitment to the Gippsland Art Gallery since its inception in the 1970s.

John Voumard for the establishment of the Bundaleer Forest Weekend, South Australia’s largest regional outdoor fine music event. John helped found the Jamestown’s Belalie Art Society in 1986.

Merran Hughes for her passionate and long-term contribution to the Alice Springs Beanie Festival as the artistic director for 12 years.

Sharon Winter for her work over 13 years to source and secure funding for arts clubs and activities for country music and the arts in Boyup Brook.

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Six young regional Australians received a Youth award:

Peta-Leigh Silver for her work since 2005 as a volunteer trainer with the Gunnedah Circus School, showing a remarkable level of commitment for a young person aged just 15 years.

Karlee Foster for her extensive involvement in the arts at a state and national level, being involved in at least eight different voluntary boards and committees since 2004.

Cassey Russell for initiating and creating a band camp involving more than 100 young people from different musical backgrounds. Her volunteer work included research, marketing and programming.

Sarah McLean for volunteer work on the Awakenings Festival since the early 2000s, where she has undertaken many tasks including MC and marketing manager.

Michael Cook for volunteer work at the Berri Arts Centre, Riverlands Gallery and the Chaffey Theatre Foyer Gallery.

Sofie Lines for volunteering for at least six Denmark organisations as an artist, coordinator, administrator, performer, committee member and general hands-on volunteer.