Media Releases

Legal Volunteers Applauded

‘Global Applause: Give Volunteers a Hand’ was the theme of this year’s International Volunteer Day on December 5. Peninsula Community Legal Centre joined the celebrations, applauding its volunteers for their efforts to support the Centre’s free legal services and strengthen access to justice for the community.

Manager of Volunteers and Education, Andrea Staunton, says:

“We estimate that volunteers donated around 5,000 hours in the past year. In 2015-16, our volunteer lawyers provided 1,697 free legal advices to clients at our Frankston, Pines (Frankston North), Cranbourne, Rosebud and Bentleigh offices. Volunteers also provided paralegal support and undertook special projects, organisational governance, trainee and student placements.

We were pleased to acknowledge the outstanding work of our volunteers by presenting awards at our recent Annual General Meeting, with the sponsorship of Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, Frankston.

Our highest honour, the Kath Nielsen Memorial Award, was presented to lawyer volunteer, Victor Moss. The late Kath Nielsen was a founder and strong supporter of Peninsula Community Legal Centre. Victor Moss has been a lawyer volunteer with the Centre since 2009. Over the past seven years, he has provided 299 free legal advices to clients in a way that is thoughtful and practical, often taking on additional work on a pro bono basis. Victor has also demonstrated real caring and generosity towards fellow volunteers, last year organising and presenting a series of workshops for staff and volunteers to help them assist clients with criminal matters. We have the deepest regard for Victor and congratulate him on this well-deserved Award.”

Victor Moss, said he was “surprised, slightly embarrassed but above all honoured” to receive the Kath Neilson Memorial Award. He added:

“I have been volunteering for the past 9 years as I want to contribute to the Peninsula Community Legal Centre community. It is not done for reward or recognition. My focus is on assisting clients, so the award came as a complete surprise. It was slightly embarrassing to be the focus of attention when so many other people are also volunteering their skills and time. Above all it was an honour to be recognised as volunteer.”

Volunteer Encouragement Awards were given to ‘rising stars’, Patrick Smith, Emily McAlister, Jesse Williams, Damien Christmas, Tia Wishart and Lillian O’Connor, in recognition of their reliability, flexibility and dedication to the Centre.

We also honoured and thanked volunteers for their long service to the organisation: Bill Boucher, Ian Hone and Jonathan Sise for 10 years’ service, and Michael Denison for 35 years’ service.

For more information about free legal services, please call (03) 9783 3600 or visit www.pclc.org.au.

END.

19 December 2016

CONTACT:

Andrea Staunton, Manager, Volunteers & Education
PENINSULA COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTRE INC.