Mornings of Celebrations in May
11 June 2009
Vision Australia honoured the invaluable contribution of our volunteers and the recipients of Bursary Education Awards and Making a Difference Awards during Mornings of Celebrations in May.
The events provided Vision Australia with the perfect opportunity to thank the community for its generosity and highlight Vision Australia's commitment to maintain services to its clients by setting up a more flexible, responsive and sustainable organisation.
Celebrations took place in 18 Vision Australia centres: Bendigo, Newcastle, Dandenong, Albury, Enfield, Heidelberg, Warragul, Geelong, Wagga Wagga, Mildura, Shepparton, Wollongong, Gosford, Warrnambool, Canberra, Essendon, Kooyong, Caringbah.
Highlights of the events included special guests such as mayors, media personalities and staff from Vision Australia's Board. New Vision Australia centres were opened, raffles were drawn and donations were presented.
A few unexpected but fantastic surprises came from the Mornings of Celebrations. Local MP John Pandazopolous visited the Dandenong centre team the week after the event and discussed ways he could assist to set up multicultural groups.
A PRIME TV news story featured the celebrations in Albury, focusing on the presentation of awards and a comment from Kerry Strauch, a volunteer and Bursary recipient.
Service pins and Honour Awards were presented to volunteers for years of service ranging from 1 year to 40 years.
Twenty Making a Difference awards were presented to cafes, companies, government departments, sporting clubs and individuals. Twenty three Bursary Further Education Awards were presented, bringing the total number of awards given out since the program was initiated in 1996 to 167.
The events provided a great opportunity for all to mingle, share food, make new friends, and chat about the inspiring achievements of the amazing people who support Vision Australia's commitment to enable people who are blind or have low vision to access and participate in every part of life they choose.