• Melville mayor George Gear and Cr Nicole Robins (centre) with Australia Day winners, including seniors Michael Weaver and Daveena Harris.

MICHAEL WEAVER and Daveena Harris have been named community seniors of the year in the Melville council Australia Day Awards.

Since retiring in 2014, Mr Weaver has shared his IT knowledge and skills in a number of volunteer roles, including mentoring and assisting with coding, programming, electronics and robotics activities at Applecross Senior High School and Floreat Park Primary School.

For the past six years, Mr Weaver has volunteered with the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, setting up IT systems and providing support to the various volunteer groups at Kings Park and Bold Park.

Mr Weaver is also a consumer and community advocate volunteer with Curtin University Centre of Clinical Research and Education, playing an essential role in modern medical research.

Over the past five years, Ms Harris has become involved as a volunteer with a number of organised charities including Street Chaplains WA.   

As the director of Perth patrols, Ms Harris regularly walks the streets of Perth as a street chaplain, assisting those in need to get meals and essential services. 

Ms Harris also attends regular meetings with WA Police, businesses, local governments and other stakeholders to address the needs of the homeless and at-risk community.

Ms Harris has also volunteered as a ‘Shero’ with Share the Dignity, working to collect sanitary items to distribute to women in need.

On top of her busy schedule, Ms Harris knits blankets and beanies for the homeless, teddy bears for premature babies and, in response to covid-19, has sown hundreds of face masks to donate to local businesses.