Honouring our volunteers

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Tuesday, 3 March 2026

Council is calling for nominations in the 2026 Knox Community Awards, recognising and celebrating the valuable contribution volunteers make to our community.

These awards shine a light on the everyday contributions that often go unseen.
Nominations are invited in categories of Knox Volunteer of the Year, Knox Community Organisation of the Year and Recognition of Years of Service.

Last year’s Knox Community Organisation of the Year was Outer Eastern Honorary Justices (OEHJ), whose volunteers include Justices of the Peace and Bail Justices.

President Antoni Pisa says OEHJ has been serving Knox residents since the late 1960s.
“By witnessing documents that would otherwise fall to Victoria Police, our Justices of the Peace free up thousands of hours of police time — around 25,000 hours in the past 11 years,” he says.
“Our members are really motivated to contribute in a practical way to help keep the community safe by freeing up police resources, while ensuring people can access the services they need.

“In just the past 11 years, our volunteers have witnessed nearly 300,000 documents such as Statutory Declarations, Affidavits and Powers of Attorney. Behind every one of those is a person who needed assistance — and an OEHJ volunteer who showed up for them.

Nominations close on Sunday 15 March.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Wednesday 20 May during National Volunteer Week, Australia's largest annual celebration of volunteering.

To access the nomination form and for more information visit, knox.vic.gov.au/communityawards.

Honouring our volunteers

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