Helping hands recognised

By Sarah Thompson
GREATER Dandenong this week honoured volunteers as part of a national celebration.
The work of volunteers within local communities is being recognised during National Volunteer Week which kicked off on Monday and will run until 21 May.
Among the 200 volunteers honoured this week in a ceremony by Greater Dandenong Council is Springvale woman Querim Gonzalez, a volunteer counsellor at ADRA counselling centre.
ADRA is a humanitarian agency which engages in sustainable development programs and disaster relief in Australia and abroad.
“I’ve always has a passion to help others,” the primary school teacher said.
“I have also always had an interest in welfare issues and self confidence issues in children but I wanted to work with adults to try and make a difference from the top down so that children aren’t as affected if they have parents with social problems,” Ms Gonzalez said.
Ms Gonzalez said she has had many rewarding moments during her 10 months as a volunteer counsellor but the most rewarding part of the job has been discovering things she didn’t know about herself.
“I have become more confident and have developed a new approach to life,” she said.
Greater Dandenong mayor Peter Brown applauded the contribution of local volunteers.
“I can’t say thank you enough to the many volunteers in our city, and it is difficult to pay true justice to the value of the work they all provide.
“Volunteers do so much more than giving up their time for others.
“They have the power to inspire the people they help, as well as to inspire others to serve,” Cr Brown said.