KSS October eKourier 2023

PEOPLE

ENRICHING LIVES AND TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES

25 Regional Award Ceremonies sweep across the state to celebrate the outstanding achievements of volunteers. Each ceremony is a testament to the dedication and passion that volunteers bring to their programs, causes and communities. It’s not every day that we, as a society, sit back and reflect on the profound impact of these contributions. From the small, seemingly menial tasks to the broader advocacy campaigning for lasting change, all volunteering has the power to enrich our lives and transform our communities for the better.

Last year, more than 128,000 people from over 500 organisations were recognised, with special messages of support received by the Prime Minister, the NSW Governor and Premier. In September, KSS NSW Operations Manager, Darryl Hodgson was invited to attend the 2023 NSW Volunteer of the Year Central Sydney Award Ceremony, held at Oatlands Golf Club. For the past three years Darryl has been volunteering to support young drivers at Stepping Stone House (SSH) get through their Learners permit to achieve their P's. Pictured above receiving his award from the Member for Ryde, Jordan Lane (Left).

T he NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards (the Awards) is an annual event aimed at recognising the incred- ible dedication, effort and community service of our state’s volunteers. Now in its 17th iteration, the Awards has grown to become one of the largest volunteer celebrations in Australia.

Congratulations to Darryl on his efforts supporting SSH.

Sharon Munro EA to the CEO

CRUNCHING NUMBERS TO CRUNCHING CHALLENGES

Olympics going on, with strikes, spares, and a few epic gutter balls that will go down in team history. All in all, it was a day filled with laughter, high-fives, and a few victorious dance moves. We came out of it not just as a stronger Finance Team, but as a bunch of Team Members who know each other a little better and can't wait to tackle whatever challenges the next year throws our way.

only promoted self-awareness but also encouraged empathy and open dialogue amongst Team Members, ultimately strengthening our collec - tive ability to work harmoniously and efficiently.

T he Finance Team recently had a day of team building and it was a blast! We kicked things off with a DISC training session in the morning, which felt a bit like diving into the wonderful world of personality quirks. We learned that some of us are "D"ominant, others are "I"nfluential, a few are all about "S"teadiness, and there are those who are incredibly "C"onscientious. It was like a crash course in Finance Team astrology! We figured out effective ways to collaborate, communicate, and resolve conflicts. This session not L to R: Amy Roberts, Chi Ly, Mary Nessek, Kenneth Zhang, Cindy Dou, Julia Yan, Doris Wang, Judith Robinson and John Duong.

The 'Wild' Finance Team

In the afternoon, things got even wilder. We ventured into an Escape Room where we attempted to outsmart puzzles, all while the ticking clock was giving us the side-eye. Let me tell you, there's nothing quite like the sight of your Team Members trying to decipher a cryptic clue under pressure – it's a memory we won't forget!

And then, to wrap it all up, we hit the Bowling Alley. We had our own Finance

"The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me." Ayn Rand

19 Kennards Kourier Oct 2023