THE Y Australia has announced their National Staff Member of the Year, and he\u2019s a key part of The Y Ballarat\u2019s operations.<\/p>\n
Coordinator of the Wendouree-based ReCranked bicycle recycling program, Wallace Martin, has recently received the honour.<\/p>\n
ReCranked accepts donated second-hand bikes and refurbishes them for new owners in need of two-wheeled transport, aiming to get them on the move, while keeping landfill to a minimum.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a proud moment to get the award,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s important recognition for ReCranked, and the work that everybody\u2019s put into the program.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a great team of 10 volunteers that come in two afternoons a week each and help to keep the program ticking over really smoothly.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach year, we bring about 320 bikes up to a roadworthy condition, and then we give away about 220 or 230 of those to new riders. We try and find homes for bikes wherever we can.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seven-year ReCranked volunteer Nigel Crosbie was named The Y\u2019s National Volunteer of the Year in 2021 and he said the fact that the local program has been highlighted two years in a row is a credit to Mr Martin.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe just does an outstanding job and relates so well to people,\u201d Mr Crosbie said. \u201cThe program wouldn\u2019t be what it is without Wallace.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have such a good bunch of blokes to work with at ReCranked. It\u2019s a great place to volunteer and to do something that\u2019s really worthwhile.\u201d<\/p>\n
Half of ReCranked\u2019s bikes are given to local people, while the rest are donated to those in need further afield.<\/p>\n
Two truckloads worth were given to flood victims in New South Wales earlier in the year, and next week, Mr Martin will deliver lots of bikes to Melbourne, which will be shipped to Namibia.<\/p>\n
He said he\u2019s grateful for the support of his managers and CEOs at The Y over the last 12 years in building up the program, and its offshoot, ReCranked in Schools.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ongoing bookings we have from schools is a testimony to how successful it is in reengaging kids in school, particularly those that don\u2019t fit mainstream education streams,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a hands-on program, a bit different and a good way to engage kids that are perhaps struggling a bit with school and life in general.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Martin has worked at The Y for 18 years, and said he\u2019s seen a lot of changes, but has always loved the organisation\u2019s ethos.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all equal, we\u2019re all here for the same purpose, and to give people a help up in any way we can,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Y Australia has announced their National Staff Member of the Year, and he\u2019s a key part of The Y Ballarat\u2019s operations. Coordinator of the Wendouree-based ReCranked bicycle recycling program, Wallace Martin, has recently received the honour. ReCranked accepts donated second-hand bikes and refurbishes them for new owners in need of two-wheeled transport, aiming to […]<\/p>\n