An initiative of Our Community and Westpac, the awards are a national competition designed to recognise community treasurers who fulfil the duties of ensuring good financial management, good financial governance and good financial outcomes.

The winners of the 2011 Westpac Community Treasurers’ Awards were announced by NSW Treasurer The Hon. Mike Baird at a cocktail function in Sydney on June 15, 2011.

Westpac Head of Social Sector Banking Julienne Price said “It is very demanding managing the financial wellbeing of a not-for-profit organisation, but the people who put their hand up for these roles do it because they are passionate about the organisation and about the cause,”

And it seems that more women than men, particularly in the small organisation category, are willing to roll up their sleeves and take on the difficult role of a community group treasurer, with 52 per cent of nominations being female.

“Small community groups have fewer staff and generate less funds and habitually rely on their volunteers to take on a multitude of responsibilities,” Group Managing Director of Our Community Denis Moriarty said.

“The role of the treasurer often falls to whoever is there and willing to jump in and help out, and as the nominations highlight, this is often women volunteers who are passionate and committed to keeping their community group strong and healthy,” Denis concluded.

Winners of the 2011 awards include: