Member for Higgins, Mr Peter Costello, today recognised volunteers throughout Higgins for their outstanding contribution to Australian society.

Volunteers perform a range of important work through emergency services, sport and recreation, education and training, community health care, heritage and arts, environment conservation and religious, community and welfare organisations.

Volunteers in Higgins make valuable contributions to our community every day through a huge range of activities, which will be recognised in National Volunteer Week (NVW), 11 – 17 May 2009.

National Volunteer Week provides a platform to pay tribute to these volunteers who give generously of their time and energy to benefit others and their communities.  In 2009 we have already seen the importance of volunteers in a much clearer light in the wake of the bushfires in Victoria and floods in Queensland.

The 2009 National Volunteer Week theme, “Volunteers: Everyday people, extraordinary contribution promotes the value of volunteering and that everyone has something of value to offer and that every volunteer’s contribution, no matter how big or small, is extraordinary because that person cares enough to be a volunteer.”

“National Volunteer Week is an opportunity for us all to thank, recognise and show our appreciation and support to the more than five million Australian volunteers for their sacrifices, hard work and time and energy and valuable contribution they make. Our communities would not be the same without them.

“I encourage all Australians to do whatever they can to support volunteers, get involved in National Volunteer Week 2009 and find out more about opportunities to contribute to their local communities.

For further information on National Volunteer Week visit www.volunteeringaustralia.org.au/nvm