BEGA Valley Shire Council is urging local not-for-profit organisations to nominate their most dedicated workers for the 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award.

The mayor, Cr Tony Allen, said the Shire had a very high level of volunteerism, through sporting and service clubs, emergency services, library and gallery volunteers, hall and cemetery committees, charity fundraising organisations and the many other ways people helped their communities.

“The NSW Volunteer of the Year Award is a wonderful opportunity for one of our own volunteers to received well deserved, State-wide recognition and to be thanked for their generous contributions,” Cr Allen said.

“This award is building on the success of the inaugural awards held last year by the NSW Centre for Volunteering.

“There were 170 nominations that culminated in the announcement of 38 exceptional regional winners, three State winners (Corporate, Youth and Senior) and the overall NSW Volunteer of the Year.”

Cr Allen said the Minister for Volunt-eering, Linda Burney, believed it was important to thank volunteers for the enormous difference they made to the disadvantaged in the community and to the environment.

All entrants must be nominated and must have volunteered for the equivalent of one day a week (or six hours) for at least six months over a 12-month period.

Entries close on Tuesday, September 30, and nomination forms and information are available through the Centre for Volunteering website, www.volunteering.com.au

For more information phone Kristin Romanis on 8267 6309 or 0412 313 359.