Lieutenant-Governor presents 
Newfoundland and Labrador Volunteer Medals in St. John's

A group of dedicated volunteers were honoured today at a formal ceremony held at the Fairmont Newfoundland in St. John's. On behalf of the province, His Honour, the Honourable A. M. House, Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, presented the Newfoundland and Labrador Volunteer Medal to men and women from various areas in and around the capital city.

G. Fred G. Bannister, William Barron, Anne Barton, Hilda Belbin, Heber C. Best, Richard Bouzan, Paula Buckle, Joy Button, Reginald Button, Joyce Churchill, Penelope Clift Crane, Charlie Cook, Theresa Dunne, Edward Furlong, Shirley Glynn, Judy Gosse, William P. Hogan, George Hutchings, Catherine Jacobs, Elizabeth Jerrett, Deborah Kennedy, Yolande Lono, Aidan Maloney, Bruce Menchenton, Bride Martin, Clarence Molloy, Doug Moores, Q.C., Dennis Murphy, Lillian Parsons, Rita Pennell, Vernon Petten, Deborah Powers, Marilyn Rabbitts, Dr. Satti Paddi Reddy, Pauline Sherren, Janice Spracklin, Donald Templeman, William Tilley, Myrle Vokey and Heber Walters have together contributed more than 1300 years as volunteers. Their long-term dedication has positively affected health, education, sports, the arts and community and economic development.

In a statement to the House of Assembly yesterday, Premier Roger Grimes applauded the accomplishments of the province's volunteers and announced the series of ceremonies throughout the province at which the Volunteer Medal will be presented.

"The people of our province are known throughout Canada and, indeed, the world, for their incredible generosity and caring spirit," said Premier Grimes. " This year provides a wonderful opportunity to award the Newfoundland and Labrador Volunteer Medal and recognize extraordinary volunteers for their invaluable contributions to our communities and to our province as a whole."

Hundreds of nominations were submitted by individuals and organizations throughout the province, between July and September 30, highlighting the extensive volunteer network operating in Newfoundland and Labrador. 

An independent selection committee set the award and nomination criteria, reviewed the submissions and selected candidates. His Honour, the Honourable A. M. House, Lieutenant-Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, will present the Volunteer Medal to 96 exceptional volunteers in special ceremonies to be held at various locations across the province.

Premier Grimes said that the men and women receiving these medals "have each, over the long-term, had profound and wide-reaching impacts on the lives of others, on their communities and on us all.... these people demonstrate, in the most remarkable way, the very practical foundation of volunteerism: the value of one and the power of many." 

Media contact: Carl Cooper, Office of the Premier, (709) 729-3564. 

Background Information

G. Fred G. Bannister, Mount Pearl
Fred Bannister has been a volunteer for 46 years, serving at the local, provincial and national levels of organizations as diverse as the Royal Canadian Legion, Alzheimer's Society and Boy Scouts. He has served on school boards and municipal councils - with 24 years service, he is the longest-serving councillor ever in his community.

William (Bill) Barron, Whitbourne
Bill Barron has served his community for more than 40 years. His volunteer efforts include serving in the St. John Ambulance, coaching minor hockey, coordinating Army Cadets fundraising efforts, as well as serving on town council and various church, recreation and community development committees.

Anne Barton, Logy Bay
For over 30 years, Anne Barton has served her community and her province through music. She directs her church choir and the Concert Crowd - a choral group dedicated to keeping the tradition of community music alive and to raising funds for charities supporting health, safety, education and culture.

Hilda Belbin, St. John's
Hilda Belbin has been a volunteer for 28 years. She has served her community through health-related fundraising and other organizational work. She is well known for her work with and on behalf of seniors.

Heber Best, Kelligrews
Heber Best has been a volunteer for more than 30 years. He participates in the Lions Club, volunteers his time to the Red Cross, the CNIB, and has been a long-time supporterof amateur sports in the province.

Richard (Rick) Bouzan, St. John's
Rick Bouzan has been a volunteer for three decades. He has served sports and education organizations, but his chief contribution has been in local, provincial and national organizations dedicated to wildlife and environmental conservation. 

Paula Buckle, Mount Pearl
Paula Buckle has been a dedicated volunteer for over 20 years. She has served extensively with community and youth guidance groups. Her most notable contribution, however, has been her work with the Red Cross, locally, regionally, provincially and nationally, to enhance and promote water safety. 

Joy Button, Old Perlican
Joy Button has been a volunteer for 15 years. She has served her community as town councillor and through administration and executive roles in charitable organizations, sports and recreation associations, educational projects, youth guidance and community support organizations.

Reginald W. Button, Sibley's Cove
Reginald Button has served for 44 years at the local, regional and provincial levels in charitable, health, educational, sports and youth guidance organizations. His greatest contributions, however, have been in long-standing volunteer activities in community development organizations.

Joyce Churchill, Portugal Cove - St. Philip's
Joyce Churchill has been a volunteer for more than 40 years. She has served as mayor of her community and as a member of the school board for her area. Her chief contribution, however, has been to the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, for which she has worked with exceptional dedication and of which she is currently chair.

Charles Cook, St. John's
Charles Cook has been a volunteer for more than 35 years. He has served at the local, regional, provincial and national levels in sports associations, youth groups, community organizations and business development associations. He has been extensively involved in the St. John's Regatta Committee.

Penelope Clift Crane, St. John's
Penelope Clift Crane has given more than 50 years of volunteer service at the local, regional, provincial and national levels. She has undertaken responsible roles in health-related fundraising, sports and recreation organizations, education, and youth guidance groups, particularly the Girl Guides.

Theresa Dunne, St. John's
Theresa Dunne has been a dedicated volunteer for 10 years. She has served her community in executive and administrative roles in her Neighbourhood Enhancement Association, on her Community Centre Board and in the Tenants' Association for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. 

Edward Furlong, St. John's
Edward Furlong has served as a volunteer for more than 10 years. Involved in several church and other charitable organizations, his greatest contribution has been to the Alzheimer Society of Newfoundland and Labrador. Serving at the local, regional and provincial levels, he has been named six times as the Alzheimer Society Volunteer of the Year.

Shirley Glynn, St. John's 
Shirley Glynn has been a volunteer for 22 years, working in both front-line and executive roles in organizations serving youth and seniors. She raises funds for several health and safety charities, and works with Meals on Wheels.

Judy Gosse, Whitbourne 
Judy Gosse has been a volunteer for more than 25 years. She has been a member of her local heritage society for 17 years and has been involved with the Girl Guides, Brownies and Pathfinders for more than two decades.

William P. Hogan, Dunville
William Hogan has been a volunteer for 55 years. He has served in a variety of roles at the local, regional, provincial and national levels, in organizations dedicated to health and recreation, community development, occupational safety and seniors' well-being. He served as mayor of his community, and on the provincial and national Federation of Municipalities. 

George Hutchings, Manuels
George Hutchings has been a volunteer for 29 years. He has served his community as a co-founder and assistant chief of its fire department, a driver for the Cancer Society and a long-standing member of the Lion's Club.

Catherine Jacobs, St. John's
Catherine Jacobs has been a volunteer for 14 years. She has served her community by investing her time and expertise in organizations related to education, community development, youth, arts and health.

Elizabeth Jerret, Bay Roberts
Elizabeth Jerrett has served as a volunteer for 30 years. She has taken administrative, executive and leadership roles at the local, regional and provincial levels of charitable, recreational, educational and youth guidance organizations. Most notably, she was the driving force behind the formation of the Bay Roberts Heritage Society.

Deborah Kennedy, Seal Cove 
Deborah Kennedy has given 27 years of volunteer service to her community and to provincial and national charities. She has served the Red Cross as an Abuse Prevention Program Facilitator and in the Disaster Response Team. Her work in education and youth guidance includes service on school advisory boards, and with the Girl Guides and the Church Lads Brigade.

Yolande Lono, St. John's
Yolande Lono has been a volunteer for 28 years. She has served her community as a founding member and executive member of the Association Francophone de St. Jean, in administrative and executive roles for the Association Francophone de Terre-neuve et du Labrador, and has been a long-time supporter of the St. John's Multi-cultural Association. 

Aidan Maloney, St. John's
Aiden Maloney has been a volunteer for 57 years. He has served a wide-range of volunteer organizations dedicated to health-related fundraising, sports and recreation, heritage and culture, education and health. He has undertaken many responsible roles at the local regional, provincial, national and international levels. 

Bride Martin, St. Vincent's
Bride Martin has been a volunteer for 50 years at the local, regional and provincial levels. She is active in church, community, economic development and tourism groups, but has focused her involvement on preserving the cultural heritage of her community.

Bruce Menchenton, Mount Pearl
Bruce Menchenton has been a volunteer for 26 years, working with local, regional, provincial, national and international organizations. He has served in sports and recreation, service and community organizations, charities, youth guidance groups, and business and community development associations. One of his most notable contributions, however, has been with Habitat for Humanity.

Clarence Molloy, Portugal Cove South
Clarence Molloy has served as a volunteer for more than a quarterof a century. His volunteer activities range widely, including executive roles in service, educational, health and business development organizations. For 27 years, he has been mayor of his community.

Doug Moores, Q.C., Harbour Grace
Doug Moores has served as a volunteer for 30 years, contributing locally, provincially, nationally and internationally. He has held leadership roles in numerous sports, arts and culture, health care, and business and development associations. He has made significant contributions to the Conception Bay North Development Association, the Harbour Grace Board of Trade and Baccalieu Chamber of Commerce, among others.

Dennis (Dee) Murphy, St. John's
Dennis Murphy has given 33 years of service at the local, regional, provincial, national and international levels. He has volunteered in health-related and other areas, but his chief contribution has been in the field of sports, including softball, soccer, hockey and rowing. His roles include coaching and fundraising, as well as administration and executive functions.

Lillian Parsons, Victoria
Lillian Parsons has been active in a variety of volunteering roles for more than 30 years. She has served her town as a councillor, as well as through church and community events. She has been involved with minor hockey and the hospital auxiliary as coordinator of volunteers.

Rita Pennell, Trepassey 
Rita Pennell has been a volunteer for more than 30 years. Her work includes service organizations, fundraising for the Janeway Foundation, and administrative and executive roles in educational and business development organizations. She has been mayor of her community for 12 years.

Vernon Petten, Port de Grave
Vernon Petten has been a volunteer for more than 30 years. He has served his community as a member of his local heritage and museum societies, as well as in various church and community development organizations. He has traveled at his own expense to devastated areas of the world to assist in educational development and disaster relief efforts.

Deborah Powers, St. John's
Deborah Powers has given more than 40 years as a volunteer at the local, regional and provincial levels, working with abused or neglected animals and their owners. Her work with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has secured care and shelter for countless creatures and has increased understanding of animals' needs among owners and the general public alike.

Marilyn Rabbitts, St. John's
Marilyn Rabbitts has been a volunteer for more than two decades. She has served her community primarily in front-line, administration and executive roles with the Canadian Diabetes Association. 

Dr. Satti Paddi Reddy, St. John's
Dr. Satti Paddi Reddy has been a volunteer for 35 years. He has served in health and educational activities, community and citizenship organizations, as well as human rights, ethnic diversity, cultural development and national unity associations. He was a founding member of the Ethno-Cultural Association of Newfoundland.

Pauline Sherren, Mount Pearl
Pauline Sherren has been a volunteer for 45 years. She has served at the local, regional and provincial level in a wide variety of organizations, including the Girl Guides and the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire. She is also involved with her church and various recreation projects.

Janice Spracklin, Paradise
Janice Spracklin has been a volunteer for more than a quarter of a century. She has served numerous groups, including Kinettes, Beta Sigma Phi and the Manuels River Heritage Society. One of her most notable contributions has been in local, regional, provincial, national and international service in the Guiding movement.

Donald Templeman, Logy Bay
Donald Templeman has been a volunteer for over 30 years in the areas of education, health, youth guidance and community development. He has served the co-operative movement at the regional, provincial and national levels.

William Tilley, St. John's
William Tilley has been a volunteer for 75 years. He is the longest-serving member of the Church Lads Brigade. His work with the CLB, in recent years most particularly as its archivist, has earned him a CLB Long-Service Award, as well as Freedom of the City of St. John's. 

Myrle Vokey, St. John's
Myrle Vokey has served his community for more than 30 years. He has volunteered for 25 years with the provincial Red Cross and was the first Newfoundland president of the Canadian Red Cross. He works with seniors and youth and is a very active member of a wide variety of service, community development, health support, educational and other organizations.

Heber Walters, Portugal Cove - St. Philip's 
Heber Walters has given more than 50 years to volunteer activities, and is particularly well-known for his work in education and youth guidance. He served for 23 years as mayor of his community and has served the Lions Club at the local, provincial and national levels.

2001 11 20                          3:40 p.m.