Filipino volunteer Ray Rosales wins Ageing Victorian Senior Achiever Award at 2026 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards

Whittlesea local Raymundo 'Ray' Rosales, a longtime Filipino volunteer with the CFA, St Vincent de Paul Society and other local groups, received the Ageing Victorian Senior Achiever Award at the 2026 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards.

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Longtime Filipino volunteer Raymundo "Ray" Rosales has been recognised at the 2026 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards, SBS Filipino reported. The Whittlesea local received the Ageing Victorian Senior Achiever Award, according to Star Weekly.

"I was surprised. I did not realise I would win the achievements award, [it] makes me excited," Rosales told Star Weekly. He said he wanted to share the recognition with the volunteers he works with.

Rosales has volunteered with the CFA, at Mernda after moving to Doreen, and is part of the St Vincent de Paul Society, where he supports refugees, asylum seekers and victim survivors of domestic violence. He is a member of the Whittlesea Reconciliation Group and is active with Thomastown Neighbourhood House, Barry Road Tennis Club, his church and Whittlesea Neighbourhood Watch.

"[I] have learned that volunteering is not only what you can give but what you receive in return. Friendship, purpose, sense of belonging and personal sense of satisfaction that you've made someone's day or made a difference," he said.