The Minister for Human Services, Cassy O'Connor, has congratulated volunteers and philanthropic supporters helping people with disability whose work has been recognised at the second annual Heart of OAK Awards in Hobart this evening.

 

Ms O'Connor said the awards, organised by OAK Tasmania, were a way of celebrating the commitment volunteers and philanthropic supporters have shown to helping others.

 

"Our volunteers selflessly give their time and energy to support Tasmanians with disability, and we owe them a great debt of gratitude," she said.

 

"The Heart of OAK Awards are a great way of recognising this work."

 

Ms O'Connor congratulated and thanked the recipients of this year's awards - Jill Calvert, Patrick Lunn, Peter Jacobson and Barry Lambert.

 

"Jill has been a board member for OAK since the early 1980s, while Patrick - as a partner of legal firm Simmons Wolfhagen - has provided in-kind support and financial contributions," she said.

 

"As a supported employee of the disability enterprise Walkabout Industries, Peter has been a mentor to new employees - helping people, some of whom have never worked before, get the confidence they need to be a part of the workforce, and inducting them.

 

"And a number of organisations - including OAK Tasmania - have benefitted from Barry's generous donations.

 

"Whether it's giving their time or donating money, each of these Award winners has shown the important difference that volunteers can make in the life of others - and I congratulate them for their efforts."

 

Ms O'Connor thanked OAK Tasmania for their work in developing the Heart of OAK Awards.

 

"OAK Tasmania does wonderful work for the community, and I would encourage more Tasmanians to get involved in supporting the disability sector," she said.