Charity champion congratulated

25 May 2023

Dedicated charity fundraiser Cheryl Garland has been acknowledged by Southern Downs Regional Council’s Volunteer Recognition Program for her tireless commitment to raising money for local not-for-profit organisations.

Since her first Open Garden fundraiser in 2005 for the Granite Belt Chaplaincy, Cheryl has branched into markets, garage sales and raffles, raising money for Lifeflight, Granite Belt Support Services, Alive, Compassionate Friends and Standby.

Southern Downs Councillor Cameron Gow invited the Mayor, Councillors and community to join him in thanking Cheryl for her charitable endeavours and helping those in need at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on Wednesday 24 May 2023.

“It’s not only the highly visible people who lead community groups to do something extraordinary and noteworthy that deserve recognition,” Councillor Gow said.

“Today, I would like to recognise and say a very heart felt thank you to one of our quiet achievers, someone who just keeps chipping away, and over time has made an incredibly significant contribution to the very fabric of our region.

“It is difficult to put a figure on it, but over the last 17 years, notwithstanding COVID lockdowns that slowed everyone down, Cheryl has soldiered on to raise thousands of dollars for local charities to spend on the wide and varied services that our community needs.

“Every cent raised by Cheryl goes to charity, all of it, and then, when all the annual fundraising is done, Cheryl puts together Christmas hampers to be distributed to those in need at that time of year.

“Can I encourage everyone to support and say thank you to Cheryl at any of the many markets and fundraising events she pops up at for the extraordinary work she does because it all goes to a good cause.

“Cheryl, thank you for all that you do.”

Council’s Volunteer Recognition Program has honoured eight community members, providing well-deserved recognition to the volunteer community and their deep dedication to making Southern Downs a great place to live, work, play and stay.