MORE than one hundred guests turned up to mark five decades since the inception of Warrigal aged care for the Shellharbour region this week.
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The annual Warrigal dinner at Warilla Bowls was the pinnacle of celebratory event for Warrigal staff, residents, customers and community partners and this year turned the limelight on volunteers past and present.
Warrigal was pioneered by a group of volunteers in 1964 to address the need for aged care services in Shellharbour and the first care home opened at Mt Warrigal in 1968.
Warrigal CEO Mark Sewell said they had a “proud history” of volunteering and the dinner was to thank them.
“This event marks the birth of the vision and goes right back to when it all started with a group of volunteers sitting around a table,” Mr Sewell said.
“Still today we have many volunteers working with the organisation and they still do lots of work every week.”
Originally Warrigal volunteers were responsible for all operations including cooking, cleaning, providing care to older people and fund-raising.
“The volunteer celebrations have reflected on the work and dedication of volunteers over the past 50 years as well as the ongoing contribution made by our current cohort of over 350 volunteers,”
“They inspire us, as they work side by side with staff to ensure that Warrigal achieve our vision of ensuring that older people have great lives.”
Former chairman of the Warrigal Board and volunteer Norm Rowland said there wouldn’t be a Warrigal without the volunteers.
Chairman of the Board of Volunteer Directors, Alan Hardy celebrated 30 years as a director and received special recognition on the night for his achievements.
Two volunteers were awarded the Chairman’s Award for Volunteering, Phillip Bonnizi for Illawarra and Ann Redhead for the Southern Highlands.
The award gave thanks to those volunteers who had made a significant contribution to Warrigal in the past 12 months.
Special guests at the dinner were Mayor of Shellharbour, Marianne Saliba, Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson and Ursula Stephens as Guest Speaker.