The Maroondah Community Volunteer Luncheon provides an opportunity to thank the many volunteers that dedicate their time to community groups and causes within the City of Maroondah. In addition, the luncheon provides an opportunity for groups to meet and network with each other and thus share their experiences in volunteering within the community.

Our community is enriched through the active involvement and participation of people who volunteer within the municipality. Maroondah City Council appreciates the work of these volunteers and the luncheon is our way of showing our support.

The speech I delivered is available within this post:

Good afternoon and welcome to the 2010 Maroondah’s Community Volunteer Luncheon, an event where the City of Maroondah shows its appreciation to the many volunteers within our community.

Maroondah City Council, in the spirit of reconciliation, acknowledges that we are meeting on the land for which the Wurundjeri people have been custodians for many centuries, and on land which the Indigenous Australians have performed age old ceremonies.

We accept, respect and have shared with the Wurundjeri people in their customs of welcome.

The Wurundjeri people support the coming together of all people, respecting their individuality, to focus on a unified and cohesive nation.

I would like to welcome each and every one of you and I commend you on the way you undertake your voluntary work within the community. I would like to mention several guests that are present here this afternoon:

My fellow Council colleagues; Cr Les Willmott and his wife Lorna, Cr Tony Dib and his wife Janet, Cr Paul Macdonald and his wife Kathy, Cr Natalie Thomas, Cr Nora Lamont and Cr Ann Fraser.

In addition, I would like to welcome the following State Members of Parliament; David Hodgett, Member for Kilsyth, Heidi Victoria, Member for Bayswater, Ryan Smith, Member for Warrandyte, as well as two Federal Members of Parliament; Tony Smith, Member for Casey and Mike Symon, Member for Deakin. Council works in partnership with all levels of government and I would like to thank these Members of Parliament for their attendance.

We also have present several members of staff at the City of Maroondah, including: Frank Dixon, our Chief Executive Officer, Helen Croxford, Director of Community and Leisure Services, Marianne Di Giallonardo, Director of Corporate Services and Phil Turner, Director of City Development.

I would also like to acknowledge the attendance of former Mayor and Councillor Peter Gurr and his wife Helen, as well as Tony Hart, Maroondah’s Citizen of the Year for 2010.

Today’s luncheon aims to recognise people who contribute through their involvement in community organisations across Maroondah. This work provides an invaluable contribution in delivering positive outcomes for our community and I would like to personally thank each and every one of you for your passion and dedication.

You will notice this afternoon the predominance of the colours green and orange, with the orange reflecting the determination, strength, vibrancy and enthusiasm that is so evident in our community volunteers and green reinforcing the importance of volunteers to ensuring we have a sustainable community, through promoting social inclusion and environmental wellbeing.

Each of these are qualities shared by our volunteers and I thank you for your work in making Maroondah an even better place for our community.

As a gesture of our appreciation, please do accept the small gift which you will find on your tables. The silver keyring provides a lasting and practical gift to show our thanks for your efforts in volunteering within the community. In addition, the silver keyrings will assist in remembering the music that we will enjoy this afternoon. Later this afternoon I will be introducing Silver Keys, a flute and piano ensemble, and I am sure you will thoroughly enjoy their music repertoire.

I thank you once again for your attendance today and trust you will enjoy the Community Volunteers Luncheon.