Leigh McCready of Peregian was named 2022 Volunteer of the Year during the Sunshine Coast’s Volunteer of the Year Awards dinner held last Wednesday in Buderim during which 10 category recipients, each with incredible and inspiring nomination stories, were announced.
Volunteering Sunshine Coast executive director and MC Chris Scott presented Mrs McCready’s nomination, speaking highly of Leigh’s abilities to harness community support and drive a coordinated outcome to re-establish the Peregian Beach Surf Lifesaving Club after its demise in 2014.
As a consequence of Leigh’s efforts the Peregian Surf Lifesaving Club has now been reconstituted, held its first annual general meeting in April of this year, and has since obtained a renewed lease from Noosa Council for the surf club building.
In its nomination of Leigh, Peregian Family & Friends Inc spoke of the intense challenges she faced in re-starting the surf club, the significant commitment she made as a busy mother and business women, and the intense voluntary workload she dealt with over the three and half years that she drove the outcomes achieved.
She has also led the Peregian Nipper’s Program from 2018 to 2020 and served as a director of the Noosa Heads SLSC in 2020/2021, and is current president of the Peregian Family & Friends Inc, the organisation she founded in 2017.
In presenting the award, Bloomhill Cancer Care chief executive officer Christopher John said Leigh epitomised the Volunteer of the Year Award as a person recognised for their exemplary voluntary contribution that made a significant impact on the Sunshine Coast’s well-being and liveability.
In accepting the award Leigh spoke of her journey and the joy she got from the support of the community and friends in re-building such an icon of the Peregian and Sunshine Coast communities.
She also thanked all volunteers for their ongoing commitment to their respective organisations and communities for the differences they make every day.
The 100 plus audience had an emotional response to the unwavering commitment that recipients have to their cause and volunteerism.
Volunteering Sunshine Coast received a huge range of nominations which demonstrated the breath, depth, and diversity of volunteers across the Sunshine Coast.
With the support of Steps Group Australia the 10 Category Recipients spoke highly of the value of volunteering and the countless hours they contribute – often blending into the very nature of what they do.
