Vice President Valerie Donlon received a 2021 Council of The Ageing (COTA) Award for her contribution as a volunteer to the community for over a decade. Valerie volunteered at Eastern Volunteers on their fundraising committee and as a driver, with AMES as an English tutor, at WIRE as a telephone support worker and for the past 10 years ago in a number of roles at U3A Nunawading including four as President.
Valerie was recognised particularly for her response to COVID-19. She was a key driver in setting up over 100 Zoom classes to maintain member participation, establishing a Facebook group and producing monthly newsletters to keep members connected during isolation. Valerie actively promotes positive ageing, exploring and advocating for opportunities for older people to be important and active in their community and is a great communicator.
Valerie joined U3A Nunawading in 2012 after retiring from a very successful career in corporate communications. Utilising her professional background, she quickly became involved in the production of the quarterly printed newsletter as well as taking on the role of Convenor of the Communications & Publicity Committee.
The following year she was elected to the Committee of Management. It was at that time that Valerie realised that the enjoyment she derived from being more actively involved in her local seniors’ community was what she was seeking so she ceased volunteering at WIRE to devote more time to U3A.
Having raised a family of four and working full time until retirement age, Valerie understood the importance of feeling part of a community once children had left home and she was no longer part of the paid workforce.
During her time as President Valerie introduced contemporary business practices that were influential in U3A Nunawading winning the City of Whitehorse Excellence in Business Award for a Community Organisation in 2018.
Valerie has played an active role over many years as Nunawading’s Delegate to quarterly Council meetings and Presidents Briefings, as well as participating in Network’s Strategic Planning Day and review of its Constitution.
She has been Nunawading’s Representative at the Eastern Metropolitan quarterly forum of the 12 U3As in our region for a number of years and during lockdown undertook additional administrative work to keep the group connected. She has been the group’s representative on the Victoria’s Combined Regions Group since 2019.
In 2020 Valerie received the Citizen of the Year Award from the City of Whitehorse in recognition of her outstanding volunteer work not only for U3A but in the general community as well.
She was made a Life Member of U3A Nunawading in 2019 for her excellent contribution to the organisation.
Those who work with her know what a positive attitude she has to making U3A a warm and welcoming environment for all members and a fulfilling place to volunteer.
Valerie will be presented with her Award along with the other recipients of 2021 Victorian Seniors Awards at Government House in February.
I had great pleasure in putting together the nomination for this award for Valerie on behalf of the Committee of Management.
A big congratulations to Valerie. I am sure you would all agree, a well – deserved award to our very hard working Vice President.
Elsie Mutton OAM
Course Administrator