Volunteer at SECC
The Maisie Foster Volunteer Award
Maisie Irene Foster was an outstanding volunteer at South Eastern Community Connect over the years and was greatly respected and loved by her community.
Through a bequest from her estate, an award has been created in her honour.
Every year, the Maisie Foster Volunteer Award is given in appreciation of her commitment to the centre and her tireless work serving others.
The award is also designed to recognise the contribution volunteers regularly make to South Eastern Community Connect and the surrounding community.
To be eligible for nomination for the Maisie Foster Volunteer Award, a person must be a volunteer with South Eastern Community Connect.
Find the definition of Volunteering here, and for more information call our office on (02) 8338 8506.
2025 Award Recipient: Carina Haurua
If you attend one of our Playgroup sessions on Wednesdays or Fridays, there’s a good chance you’ll come across the friendly face of Carina.
Carina Haurua is one of our most devoted and consistent volunteers, giving her time, her energy, and her spirit across a wide range of our community programs. Many of you will know her through our Supported Playgroups, where she is a constant source of support, kindness, and calm. Others will know her from some of our biggest community events — the Portrait Project, Colour Splash, and Messy Play Day — where her presence is part of what makes these events so memorable and successful.
To recognise her hard work for the community through SECC, we awarded Carina Haurua the Maisie Foster Volunteer Award for 2023.
Congratulations, Carina, on this well-deserved award!
Honour roll of past winners
2025 – Carina Haurua
Gives her time, her energy, and her spirit across a wide range of our community programs, most noticebly as a valuable help with our Supported Playgroups.
2024 – Ken Butterfield
Our longstanding Treasurer and Cottage volunteer, commits many hours to SECC through these multiple roles.
2023 – Tsz Yung Chu (Jacob)
Our friendly resident Justice of the Peace (JP) has been volunteering at SECC for over several years, and is ready and willing to sign.
2022 – Donna Singer
A volunteer with our Dementia Day Care Centre, The Cottage, supporting clients three days a week. She helped with everything from serving meals to running games. She loves playing cards and trying to beat our resident senior card champion!”
2021 – David Toovey
David began as a volunteer with the Food Services team in the Eastlakes office, and later added a role with The People’s Pantry in Mascot, which offers food relief to locals experiencing hardship.
2020 – Donna Thomas
Donna has been keeping our Toy Library running with her meticulous organisational skills for several years. She volunteers weekly and received the award during the first year of Covid when families and children needed strong support.
2019 – Denise Wasley
The UNSW Kingsford Legal Centre Office Manager has served on the Board for over 10 years, using her professional skills and insights to make SECC and the south-east community better and stronger.
2018 – Iris Knight
Iris was awarded the Maisie Foster Volunteer Award for her dedicated service baking cakes for the Beaconsfield lunch group, helping as a shopping assistant, and taking part in the inter-generational playgroup.
2017 – Beatriz Londono
Beatriz began as a volunteer in the Spanish cancer support group before moving on to assist with and then run Tai Chi classes for Spanish-speaking clients.
2016 – Frances Heming
Francis Heming received the Maisie Foster Award in recognition of many years of dedicated volunteering.
2015 – Yun Fang Lu & Min San Song
Mrs Yun Fang Lu & Mr Min San Song were awarded the Maisie Forster Award for many years of Tai Chi teaching.
2014 – Maureen Sale
In 2014, Maureen Sale was the recipient of the Maisie Forster Award for her work as a volunteer English teacher over many years.
2013 – Mai Ho
Mai Ho’s friendly disposition and invaluable help with general office duties has been much appreciated.
2012 – Luis Velez
Luis Velez made invaluable contributions to the cancer support group, Community Gardens project, and meditation group.
2011 – Pamela O’Reilly
Pamela O’Reilly was presented with the Maisie Foster Award as she retired as chairperson. Her hands-on approach and constant availability was much appreciated.
2010 – Maria Carter
Maria worked as a dedicated English teacher providing tutorials to people wanting to improve their English. She applied for a volunteer’s position in 2004 when she was 80 years old, as wanted to be useful while still capable. When asked if she was satisfied with her volunteer role, her answer was “Yes, I love to teach people”.
2009 – Priscilla Bonham-Carter
Priscilla was associated with us for many years; first as a member, then as an English teacher and later combining that with being a board member and sometime proofreader.
2008 – Greg Killeen
Greg has been living in the Botany Bay City Council area since 1978 and is an active member of several community, disability and government committees. He was our Chairman from 2008–2010.
2007 – Sharon Blunt
Sharon worked as Manager for Randwick Waverley Community Transport and was an active volunteer on the South Eastern Community Connect board.
2006 – Emilse ‘Betty’ Valius
Betty was a volunteer with South Eastern Community Connect since it first began, and in 2005/2006 moved to a role as facilitator for the Alegria group.
2005 – Elizabeth Beesley
Elizabeth is employed by Botany Council as the Community Services Manager and was a board member for many years.
2004 – Perlita Benhayon and Judith Kennedy
Perlita and Judith worked tirelessly as bus assistant volunteers and acted as liaisons between service users and South Eastern Community Connect staff.
2003 – Barbara Cairns
Barbara was a long-serving volunteer in the Botany LGA and she carried out a team leader role for the Dacey Gang social access bus group.
2002 – Marianne Lazar
Marianne volunteered for many years as a home visitor under our Social Support program. Her commitment to service users was widely regarded within the community.