Celebrating our volunteers

Whitehorse News - December 2023

This month, with International Volunteer Day falling on 5 December, Council is thanking our incredible volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to make a positive impact in our community. 

Whitehorse volunteers are educators, gardeners, event planners and gallery attendants. We also have a dedicated team of volunteer committee members for Youth, Arts, Cultural Diversity, Parks, Reconciliation and Disability Advocacy. Whether you've been lending a helping hand for years or are new to our volunteer family, your contribution is invaluable.

We’ll be celebrating the generous contributions of all of Council’s volunteers with a special invite-only function on 6 December. We will also pay tribute to two mainstays of Council’s volunteering programs, Mary Burgess and David Inglis, who have retired after 50 years of service. Council congratulates Mary and David on their amazing milestone and thanks them for their enormous contributions over the past 50 years.

Mary Burgess 

Mary Burgess looks at camera

Mary began volunteering for Meals on Wheels in our city in 1973. Every fourth Wednesday for the past 50 years, Mary has delivered meals to those in need across Whitehorse, and helped raise the spirits of isolated community members.

When her three children were younger, they would join her delivering the meals on their school holidays.

Mary completed more than 600 shifts and delivered more than 9000 meals during her 50 years with the service.
 

David Inglis 

David Inglis smiles at camera

David commenced volunteering in Whitehorse in 1973 as a bus driver – taking elderly citizens to bingo and other activities.

For the last 49 years, he has been a member of the Wandinong Sanctuary Parks Advisory Committee and also served as its treasurer for 
many years. The sanctuary is in Blackburn, and David has made an incredible and long-lasting contribution to its development and upkeep.

 Check out all of the volunteering opportunities with Council.