The Premier's Business Award in Volunteering acknowedges the great contribution made by the business sector to their community. This year the Office for Volunteers congratulates four recipients of the award:

• Agriexchange and the South Australian Murray Darling Basin Resource Information Centre (SAMRIC Inc)
• Minter Ellison and Thomson Playford
• Moonta Building and Landscape Supplies
• Savings and Loans Credit Union

Agriexchange and the South Australian Murray Darling Basin Resource Information Centre (SAMRIC Inc)
Joint award winners Agriexchange (formerly Yandilla Park) and the South Australian Murray Darling Basin Resource Information Centre (SAMRIC Inc) were recognised for their extraordinary contribution in the recovery effort following the Renmark storm in January 2007. Their efforts contributed to a $10 million saving to the horticultural industry in and around Renmark.

At the award ceremony, Agriexchange was represented by Richard Hamley and SAMRIC was represented by Natasha Ludas.

Minter Ellison and Thomson Playford
Joint award winners Minter Ellison and Thomson Playford are the two legal firms behind the Housing Legal Clinic. They provide a range of services to the community including free legal services to people experiencing homelessness.

As a result of their work, there has been an increase in the number of lawyers involved in pro bono work. The legal clinic model is being accepted as a new way of providing pro bono work – taking the lawyers to the homeless and marginalised clients at the welfare organisations’ facilities. 

In this way the community has received pro bono legal services to the value of approximately $450,000.  This would not have occurred without the support of Minter Ellison and Thomson Playford. 
 
At the award ceremony, Minter Ellison was represented by Josh Symes and Thomson Playford was represented by John Murray.

Moonta Building and Landscape Supplies
Award winner Moonta Building and Landscape Supplies was recognised for their contribution in project managing the construction and fitting out of a Community Activity Centre at Moonta. They made sure that council and building requirements were met, ordered building materials and fittings and coordinated both volunteers and building contractors.

The Moonta Activity Centre provides various activities to the local community particularly the elderly and disadvantaged groups including woodwork and metalwork activities. 

At the award ceremony, Moonta Building and Landscape Supplies was represented by Matthew and Richard Hopkins

Savings and Loans Credit Union
Award winner Savings and Loans Credit Union was recognised for their contribution in encouraging and supporting staff to volunteer in the corporate volunteering program Community Connect.

Every staff member is entitled to one fully-paid leave day a year to participate in Community Connect. This program has seen over 1,000 volunteer hours donated to the Salvation Army, with an estimated value of $30,000.

Savings and Loans staff have also volunteered in many other activities:

• The Red Shield Appeal doorknock.
• The Christmas Cheer food hamper and toy distribution program.
• Adventure Camps for disadvantaged kids.
• Computer programming.
• Job Ready Workshops for disadvantaged youth.
• Money Minded financial literacy program.

At the award ceremony, Savings and Loans Credit Union was represented by
Tony Innes

Further information

• Volunteers Day celebration
• Premier's Business Award