Honouring local volunteers and celebrating the 2026 Stan Henwood Award winner!

The Stan Henwood Award celebrates outstanding community contribution and honours the legacy of Stan Henwood OAM, whose dedication and service to Cardinia Shire has left a lasting impact across the shire. This year’s award was presented to Noelene (Non) Blair.

For more than 30 years, Non has made an extraordinary contribution to the cultural and community life across the Hills region. Her volunteer involvement spans numerous local organisations, including 15 years coordinating the Woorilla Writers Group, 20 years with the Emerald Community House, 15 years with GEMCO, 15 years managing the Emerald Market, 3 years leading the Arts Alliance, 32 years coordinating PAVE/Winterfest, and 2 years supporting Eastern Health.

A standout achievement has been Non’s leadership of the Woorilla International Poetry Prize, which has elevated local, national and international voices while strengthening Emerald’s reputation as a creative and inclusive hub. Her standing support of the Emerald Community House has had a meaningful impact on everyday community members. 

Cardinia Shire Mayor, Councillor Brett Owen, congratulated Non and acknowledged the vital role of volunteers across the shire.

“Non’s ability to inspire others and her deep commitment to celebrating local culture have helped shape the region’s identity, making her a deserving recipient of the 2026 Stan Henwood Award,” he said.

“We are delighted to celebrate the invaluable contributions of our dedicated volunteers. Your commitment and passion for serving others is truly inspiring, and we thank you for your outstanding efforts.

“Volunteers are the quiet achievers of our community, and so much of what makes Cardinia Shire a great place to live is because of you,” he said.

Mayor Owen also highlighted Council’s ongoing work to support volunteering across the shire.

“Council is currently developing a Volunteer Strategy to better understand the volunteering landscape across the shire and identify opportunities to support, sustain and grow our volunteer base,” he said.

“We have already begun targeted consultation with our existing volunteer groups, and we look forward to broader community engagement on the draft strategy in the coming months.”

For more information about the Stan Henwood Award, visit: www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/stanhenwood     

For details about volunteering opportunities in Cardinia Shire, phone 1300 787 624 visit www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/volunteer.   


2026 Stan Henwood Award winner,  Noelene Blair.

2026 Stan Henwood Award nominees and winner
(L-R) Patricia (Pat) Buoncristiani, Denise Davidson, Noelene Blair, Mayor Brett Owen, Liz Bergmeier, Ian Wake and Kirra Kruzicevic.