$1,141 for Backpacks 4 SA kids – Educators SA celebrates volunteers
Keith Hamman recognised for 60 years of service
As part of the National Volunteers Week, Educators SA celebrated its Volunteers’ Services Ceremony on Thursday 20th May. “Today we honour 99 educators who have collectively given 1,141 years of service to the education community in South Australia”, Educators SA’s president Lisa-Jane O’Connor said. Michelle Lensink, Minister for Human Services, joined the ceremony and presented certificates to volunteers.
The event recognised volunteers for their continuous service on the management committees of their educator professional association in the categories outstanding 1st year volunteer and 5+, 10+, 20+, and 30+ years of service. Eleven outstanding 1st year volunteers, 32 volunteers with 5+ years of service, 30 who have volunteered for more than 10 years, eleven with 20+ years of service and 15 people with more than 30 years received a certificate of recognition.
But for one person those categories weren’t enough. 91-year-old Keith Hamman has been serving on the Mathematical Association of SA (MASA) committee for 60 years now. Besides teaching at different schools in SA, he also started the Saturday Morning Problem Solving workshops, from which six South Australian students were chosen to represent Australia in the International Mathematics Olympiads, resulting in gold medals including for Terry Tao, who is presently among the top four mathematicians in the world. The MASA School Maths Competition – now the Hamann School Mathematics Competition – is in its 60th year and Keith has written papers for most of them. “He is without doubt the doyen of Mathematics Education in South Australia and Nationally”, MASA president Tom Frossinakis said. “I would like to thank all of the volunteers for dedicating their time to support the education community. People volunteer because they want to and that in itself speaks huge volumes to our community in South Australia”, Minister Michelle Lensink said.
To acknowledge the 1,141 years of volunteering that its members have contributed, Educators SA donated a cheque to Backpacks 4 SA kids of $1,141, a not-for-profit organisation that provides resources that contribute to the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people during periods of dislocation from home and routine care. “We have three staff to run our organisation Without the help of our 793 volunteers we would never be able to do what we do. In 2021, we have been able to support 2,400 kids with our backpacks program for example. This donation helps us to continue our work and to help families in need, so thank you!” said Rachael Zaltron, General Manager of Backpacks 4 SA kids.
“Recognise. Reconnect. Reimagine” was this year’s theme of the National Volunteers Week. “You make a profound impact”, said Lisa-Jane O’Connor. ”We thank you for the selfless and inspirational work you do and are honoured to be able to acknowledge your work today.”
Keith Hamann was honoured for 60 years of service as a volunteer with MASA, the Mathematical Association of South Australia.
