Jimboomba resident Sarah Weir has been named Logan’s volunteer of the year for her role in the community’s recovery following the Christmas Day storms.
Ms Weir worked with the Rotary Club of Jimboomba to run emergency relief support services for impacted locals for several weeks after the city’s west was devastated by strong winds, heavy rain and high temperatures.
She helped provide locals with free meals, food donations, laundry services, showers, and even birthday parties.
Some residents went months without power, but Ms Weir’s support continued until they were reconnected.
“My plan originally was to open [the Jimboomba Community and District Hall] for just three days, mainly because it was 42 degrees over those days and no one had any power or service,” Ms Weir said.
“Over seven days, we served around 7500 meals.
“The last person I was personally helping wasn’t reconnected to power until the 15 March, the Friday before the local election.”
Ms Weir also helped locals connect with insurance companies and access emergency funding.
On Saturday (18 May) she was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Frank Lenz Memorial Award at the 2024 City of Logan Volunteer Awards.
Support service 4207 Helping Hands was also celebrated at the event, receiving the Davida Steele Memorial Award for Outstanding Community Organisation.
The charity’s founder, Claire Allen, runs the organisation from her Beenleigh home while juggling family and work.
4207 Helping Hands helps the community through a barter system: donated items are swapped for grocery items and then used in hampers to help people in the community.
Mayor Jon Raven said the awards celebration, which has run since 1988, was a tradition to recognise that “not all heroes wear capes”.
“We know Logan is the youngest, most diverse and fastest growing city in the state, but it’s also the kindest,” he said.
“Our community spirit is our point of difference and the nominees this year are wonderful examples of what that means.
“I want congratulate Sarah Weir and 4207 Helping Hands and thank them for their service.”
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