Volunteers make the cup
Birdsville Races put out call for a vollie army
FESTIVALS are marvellous human events, and nothing gets you to the heart of a festival more than rolling up your sleeves, getting involved, and helping to make that fantastic giant come to life.
And the call is out for volunteers to come out to the ever-popular Birdsville Races.
The Birdsville Races carnival is a landmark outback event on many people’s bucket lists, with a program of events surrounding the two-day core race event held over August 31 and September 1.
This will be the 136th running of the event. Every year, it raises much-needed funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, this year celebrating its 90th anniversary.
Callum Boase is organiser of the event’s volunteer program, and said there were plenty of reasons to volunteer at the Birdsville Races.
“The event is mainly run by volunteers, and it is one of the best ways of participating in the Birdsville Races, and of making friends at the event,” he said.
“It’s a way of getting to see a side of the event that most people don’t get to see, to become a part of the Birdsville Races community in a way that is really rewarding.”
Callum said there was a mix of volunteers each year, from people who have been volunteering for quite a few years, to people who just do it as a one-off.
The volunteer group each year reflects all ages and walks of life.
“We get quite a few grey nomads, and we get some much younger people also. Last year, our youngest was 19 years old, and the oldest volunteer was 76,” he said.
“I think that people really enjoy being a part of that volunteer community, the people that we work with just show the most amazing sense of giving.”
The race event matches people’s skills and interests to the work they are given across the event.
“There’s more manual, practical jobs like set up and pack down, there’s marshalling, hospitality, and retail like souvenir sales: there’s something for everyone,” Callum said.
Before and after shifts, volunteers can participate in all of the experiences the races have to offer as Birdsville transforms into a buzzing hive of activity with film, live music, cocktail parties, a fun run, and travelling boxing tents.
Volunteers can nominate to complete their shift with friends and family, and in line with a particular skill-set or area of interest. Depending on the team, volunteer time commitments start from as little as nine hours.
In return for their efforts, volunteers receive an exclusive souvenir volunteer polo shirt and complimentary two-day racing pass, granting them access to all of the exhilarating action at Birdsville’s famed dirt race track: from punting and partying to Fashions on the Field.
Along with 7000 visitors, volunteers travel hundreds of thousands of kilometres to Birdsville every year to help deliver a two-day, 13-race program, and a jam-packed schedule of outback entertainment and activities.
Many volunteers begin their journey from the beginning of August – travelling with friends, family and partners – and setting up camp early to enjoy the region’s yabby races, street parties and various other events that lead into the big Friday and Saturday race days.
Others choose to take a more direct route, exploring and detouring via the Simpson Desert and Lake Eyre on their way home once the races have finished.
Volunteer registrations are
live now at www.birdsville races.com/Volunteer, with all volunteers required to be 18 years of age or over.
The first Birdsville Race Meeting was held September 21–22, 1882.
According to historical sources it was “largely attended”, with nearly 150 station owners, managers, stockmen, and others being present. The weather was “delightful”.