I am delighted to announce that Mr. Les Williams is the 2018 Premier’s Volunteer of the Year.
For more than 60 years, Les has volunteered in a range of different capacities, including at both government and organisational levels.
Since joining the Huntington’s Disease Association Tasmania in 1978, Les has become a champion for the cause and supported families suffering from the debilitating disease.
National Volunteer Week also commences today with the theme this year of Give a little. Change a lot.
Today more than ever this theme is very appropriate, given that just 10 days ago our southern communities were severely affected by storms.
It is in times of emergency that the spirit of volunteering is most obvious, and that has most certainly been the case, where community members have jumped into action to help their neighbours and communities affected by the storms.
The Tasmanian Government also recognises the vital role Volunteering Tasmania has in supporting volunteers and the many organisations that rely on Volunteering Tasmania, and that is why the Government has invested nearly $1 million over the next three years to support Volunteering Tasmania’s very important work.
Tasmanians can be very proud of their strong commitment to volunteering, which is a vital part of our social fabric.
Without the contributions from volunteers many of the events, services and supports we access simply would not be available.
The 2018 Southern Cross Television Tasmanian Volunteering Awards are well-deserved recognition for the many individual Tasmanians who give their time freely to help our communities and build a stronger State.
I want to take this opportunity to once again, congratulate Les on the incredible amount of support, advocacy and awareness he has shown to Tasmanians.
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