Volunteer of the Year and winner of Outstanding Leadership

Deborah Upstill

Deborah has selflessly contributed through volunteer roles at various organisations over the past 25 years, usually taking on multiple activities at a time. She has made a significant difference to the lives of others, and has done this in a very personal, caring way.

Some of her many volunteer roles are with Monash’s Meals on Wheels service where she has helped since 1997. Deborah was a volunteer at Monash Gallery of Art for more than a decade and helps with the Monash home library service, collecting clients on bus rounds to bring to library locations, and also delivering bags of books to their homes when clients are not able to travel.

“When I’ve been out taking meals or books to older people or visiting them in hospital, I come home and just feel invigorated and happy because I get so much back from them. It really is something that adds so much to my life and I would encourage everyone to get involved in their local community,” Deborah said.

Deborah was awarded the Sir John Monash Award for Outstanding Leadership for her exceptional commitment to volunteerism and the welfare of people in the Monash community.