St John’s Ambulance volunteer Valmai Dempsey has been named the 2022 Senior Australian of the Year for her tireless dedication and commitment.
Known affectionately as “Aunty Val” to her community, Val is one of the ACT’s longest-serving volunteers, giving more hours per year than any other volunteer.
She stood strong in 2020-21 in the face of twin challenges, first from the Black Summer bushfires and then from COVID-19, and according to Australian of the Year staff, rose admirably to the occasion.
“She led 40 fellow volunteers as they supported fire-affected communities during the emergency that stretched over many weeks.
“Then when the pandemic hit, Val displayed unwavering commitment to the St John team, despite heavy impacts on team morale. Without hesitation, she personally contacted every volunteer to check they were ‘doing OK’ in terms of welfare, mental health and morale,” they said.
Congratulations Val, from all of us at The Donaldson Sisters – and thank you for all your selfless hard work.
