Honour a volunteer in the Moreland community

Know someone your local neighbourhood just couldn't do without? Want to honour someone who has played a big part in the life of your community?

Now, you can.

Moreland City Council has opened nominations for the Premier's Volunteer Champions Awards 2015. The Champions Awards are the Victorian government's new programme that serves to recognise and honour outstanding volunteers within the community who "commit themselves to making this state a better, safer and more connected place to live".

And when it comes to volunteers, Victoria has no shortage of it. According to city council's page, upwards of 1.5 million Victorians, more than a third of the population, are formal volunteers in their communities.

There are various selection criteria in which volunteers can be nominated for. These include:

• Managing a community event beneficial to the Moreland community.
• Making a significant and valuable contribution to the youth of the Moreland region.
• Contributing to the development of arts and culture in Moreland.
• Collaborating with the community for a positive outcome and increasing social engagement.
• Making a deep contribution to the development of sports within the community.
• Contributing toward the bettering of relationships between the Aboriginal Torres Straits Islander people and the wider Australian community.
• Making an impacting contribution towards the environmental sustainability of Moreland.
• An excellent and ongoing contribution towards the overall community and environment of Moreland.

A total of 51 Victorians will be honoured with awards, including the Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Award for Volunteer of the Year. The winner of this award will receive a special handcrafted trophy and a $10,000 donation to a nonprofit organisation of their choice.

Nominations for the awards close on September 15.

Want to settle down and take part in Moreland's warm community? Your local agents at Ray White Brunswick will help move you into a Brunswick property that you can really call home. Don't hesitate to give us a bell.