AUSTRALIAN VOLUNTEERS FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Last week, Federal Member for Berowra Philip Ruddock MP hosted a ceremony at his Pennant Hills Electorate Office at which he presented official Certificates of Appreciation to a number of locals who had been nominated, under the “Australian Volunteers for International Development Program”, by the organisation with whom they had served overseas.
‘Volunteers play an enormously important role in the fight against poverty and I suspect few people realise that some 12,000 Australian volunteers have represented Australia in foreign lands as either volunteers or Youth Ambassadors’.
Mr Ruddock said these volunteers are ‘the human face of Australia overseas’ and are ‘often the first contact many people in developing countries have with Australia’.
‘The Certificates of Appreciation presented at the ceremony are simply a small yet tangible expression of thanks to these caring people who have found a practical way in which to express their concern for the wider world community.’
At the Ceremony, Habitat for Humanity had three recipients,
Ms Neowool Kwon (from West Pennant Hills) whose volunteer service was undertaken in Malaysia,
Stuart Ryan (from Pennant Hills) whose volunteer service was undertaken in Vietnam and,
Ms Eleeza Hooker (from Mount Colah) whose volunteer service was undertaken in Fiji.
Joseph Doyle, from Pennant Hills represented the ABV Foundation and received his Certificate for work in Papua New Guinea.
‘Volunteers undertake a variety of tasks overseas, from construction work to teaching practical skills.’
Mr Ruddock said volunteers from groups such as HOPE Worldwide, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the Young Adults Fellowship who were unable to attend the ceremony would receive their Certificates by mail.