Independent Liberal Member for Alfred Cove Dr Janet Woollard congratulated Mr Gerry Georgatos, General Manager of Murdoch University Guild of Students following his success in the WA Community Services Industry Awards.

“Gerry Georgatos is a very deserving winner. He is a quietly spoken, unassuming person who has a wonderful ability to set up innovative programs that encourage and support university students to help others within the community,” said Dr Woollard.

“His programs are so effective that two of them were nominated in the award program this year and he personally took out the Outstanding Commitment by an Individual Award.”

Dr Woollard said Mr Georgatos, who is about to complete a Masters in Social Justice Advocacy and a Masters in Human Rights, was responsible for the establishment of Students Without Borders, which has over 150 programs that foster pre-entry workplace skills, hands on experiences and interpersonal skills.

“The Students Without Borders program won the Category 1 section of the awards titled Working Creatively to Make a Difference, which was for small groups or organisations with a budget of less than $50,000 per annum,” said Dr Woollard.

“Mr Georgatos was also responsible for establishing the 8-Ball Computer Recycling program, which was nominated as one of three finalists in the Strengthening Volunteering section. The nationally acclaimed program encourages members of the public to donate their old computers, monitors and other equipment to be recycled and upgraded. More than 12,000 computers have been recycled in this way and provided to needy students or groups in WA and abroad.”

“Another of his recent outstanding achievements was the establishment of the Social Justice Centre at Murdoch University, which focuses on issues of equity and fairness to assist disadvantaged people.”

Dr Woollard said Students Without Borders will receive a $5,000 Lotterywest grant as its prize and Mr Georgatos can nominate a worthy community organisation to receive the $5,000 prize from his Individual Award.

“There is no doubt that Mr Georgatos has had a very positive impact on the community at large. The students involved in his programs gain a sense of pride and achievement, and an awareness of many of the social and equity issues that people face within our community. I sincerely congratulate him on his well deserved success.”