ECLC Annual Volunteers & Partnerships Dinner 2016

Eastern Community Legal Centre welcomed a record-breaking number of guests to the Annual Volunteers and Partnership Dinner on Thursday 12 May.

Held during National Volunteer Week, the sold out dinner was attended by 150 people who helped the Centre celebrate and demonstrate its thanks for the generous contributions of its 100+ volunteers.

Certificates of Recognition were presented to Helen Gay, Karin Costenoble, Craig Halfpenny, Erin Varker and Bill Boucher for their longstanding service and ongoing commitment to improving access to justice in the community

Karen Jones was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her long service and contributions as an outreach volunteer and previously as the Chair of ECLC’s Board.

CEO Michael Smith highlighted the success of ECLC’s many dynamic partnerships, with 2016 being the first year to formally include partnerships as part of the dinner celebrations. Representatives from YRIPP, Boorndawan Willam Aboriginal Healing Service, Yarra Ranges Council, EDVOS, Deakin University and the Eastern Elder Abuse Network were warmly welcomed.

ECLC was honoured to have Victoria’s first Commissioner for Gender and Sexuality, Rowena Allen, in attendance to deliver the evening’s keynote address.

Ms Allen highlighted some of the social and legal issues faced by the LGBTI community, including discrimination in the work place and aged care, as well as some positive advances during her time as Commissioner, such as LGBTIspecific recommendations by the Royal Commission into Family Violence.

ECLC would like to thank its dinner sponsors Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, Moores, JH Legal and Robinson Gill Lawyers for their support of the event.