John Fillery has been named the Volunteering ACT and NRMA Insurance Volunteer of the Year 2007 at a ceremony during National Volunteer Week. Mr Fillery also received the award in the Community category.
Mr Fillery spent his youth in a Sydney orphanage and as a young man vowed that he would do whatever he could to bring joy to the lives of children. This he does by using recycled scrap timber to make toys which he paints and donates to hospitals and charities such as Barnados, St Vincent de Paul, the Smith Family, the Salvation Army and Marymead.
In addition to his work for children, Mr Fillery also volunteers with Handy Help and Communities @ Work performing maintenance work for older people or those with a disability. Mr Fillery has helped many with his woodworking, welding, concreting, carpet laying and plumbing skills.
John and his wife Beryl volunteer together for Meals on Wheels, and also deliver fruit to after-school care services. Much of the fruit they grow in their own garden.
Speaking at the ceremony Mr Fillery said "Get into as many organisations as you can and enjoy it because you'll get the rewards; smiles on the faces of children and elderly people."
Others to be recognised at the ceremony were Lindell McConnell ( Sport and Rec), Brian Hodgkinson (Emergency Services), Alison Aitken (Arts and Heritage), Perri Morris and James Reeder (Health), Cris Kennedy (Education), David Walsh (Environment), Sara Vassallo (under 25) with Special Commendations to Albert Green, Barbara Kennedy and Phil Hindley.
"Having help start these awards in 1990, I am very pleased to see how they have continued to grow", Mary said. "It is very important that we continue to recognise the very valuable contribution that volunteers make to our community".
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