Volunteers honoured
Council has recognised inspiring volunteers and community organisations in the Knox Community Awards.
Awards were presented for Community Organisation of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Volunteer of the Year – Special Honours, and Recognition of Years of Service.
Knox Mayor, Cr Paige Kennett said these awards celebrate the people who quietly strengthen our community.
“Congratulations to all of the volunteers and organisations whose generosity, compassion and commitment continue to shape Knox for the better,” she said.
“Over the past 12 months, we’ve seen countless examples of neighbours supporting neighbours, individuals stepping forward when it mattered most and groups working tirelessly to lift others up. These acts of service, often unseen yet always meaningful, remind us that community is built not by grand gestures but by the steady, everyday efforts of people who care.”
Winners were announced this week, as part of National Volunteer Week (18-24 May). The theme of this year’s week was ’Your Year to Volunteer’.
The 2026 Knox Community Awards recipients are:
Volunteer of the Year – Richard Faragher
Richard has dedicated over 25 years to protecting Knox's natural environment, becoming one of the community's most respected environmental leaders and advocates. As President of the Knox Environment Society for 16 years, Richard has grown membership by 151% in the last decade. He built their community shed, now a hub for volunteering, education and collaboration used by Knox Repair Café, Gardens 4 Wildlife and others, and supported the establishment of four new environmental Friends groups across Knox by sourcing plants, tools and funding for each.
Richard has represented community interests since 2018 across significant planning matters including quarry expansions, the Save Lake Knox campaign and government inquiries, presents submissions and expert evidence at hearings. He mentors individuals and groups and contributes technical expertise to the Knox Environmental Advisory Committee.
In the last 12 months he secured a sub-lease and $5,000 grant to restore a neglected Ferntree Gully bushland site, installing paths and planting rare and threatened species where habitat had been degrading for years.
Community Organisation of the Year – Foothills Community Care
Stephen Barrington, Founder, Foothills Community Care
Foothills Community Care has been a cornerstone of support in Knox, growing from a small local initiative into a trusted and vital community organisation. They provide compassionate leadership with a strong focus on building community, not just providing charity.
In the past 12 months, Foothills has delivered more than 50,000 free meals and distributed 15,000 essential care parcels, supporting people experiencing food insecurity, homelessness, isolation and financial hardship. Its programs, including the weekly Ferntree Gully Community Meal, Community Casseroles and the Mum’s Connection Space, provide more than practical assistance, offering safe spaces where people feel valued, connected and supported. At its 2025 Christmas Day lunch, 100 volunteers welcomed over 320 residents who would otherwise have spent Christmas alone.
Foothills plays a leadership role within the Knox Emergency Relief Network and works collaboratively with over 100 local partners. It is supported by a diverse volunteer base of more than 250 people. Often those who receive support go on to become volunteers themselves, breaking the cycle of isolation.
Volunteer of the Year — Special Honours
In a high calibre field of individual nominations, five volunteers received Special Honour awards for their contribution to the Knox community.
- Eddie Atacador who established the Knox Community Chess Enthusiasts Club, is actively involved in the Knox Filipino community and has served on the Knox Active Ageing Advisory Committee for six years.
- Rob Bloye who has generously shared his musical talents to bring connection, dignity and joy to residents in independent living and aged care at Glengollan Village and the wider Knox community.
- Brook Junginger who created opportunities for children by founding the East Eclipse Netball Club, which has grown into a thriving organisation with seven teams across five age groups.
- Christine Pow who established a Mahjong group that began with only a few participants and has grown into a highly engaged community group running programs at four locations.
- Kristian Schouten who is often on call around the clock to serve and protect the Knox community through his service with emergency organisations: Knox SES and Scoresby CFA.
Congratulations to all our nominees for the 2026 Knox Community Awards and thank you all for your outstanding contribution to our community.
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