Give a little, change a lot
If you have considered volunteering, would like to know more about an organisation, or would enjoy sharing morning tea with your fellow volunteers, then National Volunteer Week from May 21 to 27 is for you. Volunteering organisations across the Wimmera-mallee will throw open their doors for a series of ‘drop in’ events, with the week to also be punctuated by morning teas, a barbecue and volunteer information sessions, and even a mini expo, in keeping with the 2018 theme of ‘Give a little. Change a lot’. Kicking off the week on the Monday, Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly and Centre for Participation will host drop in sessions, aimed at opening the organisations’ doors to their communities and highlighting how vital volunteering is to their success. Tuesday will see Horsham Town Hall play host to a mini expo and morning tea, while Harrow’s Bay Riders Community Centre will host a community celebration morning tea. At Warracknabeal on Wednesday, existing and potential volunteers can drop in to Warracknabeal Neighbourhood House and Learning Centre, which will host a barbecue. In Horsham, Wimmera Health Care Group will host a drop in, and St Arnaud a ‘thank you’ morning tea in the Perry Room at the town hall. Guests will be welcomed to a function celebrating volunteers at Stawell’s Powerhouse on Thursday evening, with a light supper provided, while Friday will see the WRSA open its doors for a second drop-in session and West Wimmera Shire host a community morning tea at Edenhope’s Red Tail Gallery. Centre for Participation volunteering resources program officer Michelle Pitman said the organisation was thrilled to promote and encourage volunteers and members of the public to attend events celebrating National Volunteer Week. “It is an annual celebration recognising the generous contribution of volunteers from across Australia and beyond,” she said. “And the 2018 theme of ‘Give a little. Change a lot’ simply expresses just how the generous contributions of volunteers can add up to have a big, and positive, impact.” Ms Pitman described the variety of volunteering available across the Wimmera as staggering. “So many people tell us that, without the work of their volunteers, their community simply wouldn’t function,” she said. “We encourage volunteers to attend these events and, if you would like to give a little but change a lot as a volunteer, we can help find the right opportunity for you. Give us a call on 03 5382 5607”. Centre for Participation chief executive Julie Pettett said volunteers were making a difference in every shire, town and community and they were making an impact by using their skills, experience and passion for a person, a place, an organisation or our environment. “They vote for what they believe is important by giving their time and skills, and are they are absolutely worth their weight in gold,” she said. “We thank volunteers for their contribution every day, however, this National Volunteer Week I’d especially like everyone to thank volunteers by joining in an event that celebrates the volunteering. “To our volunteers, on behalf of the Centre for Participation, I would like to say a personal thank you for all you do... we couldn’t make a difference without you!”
‘It’s a two way street’
MOVING to Horsham ‘temporarily’ in 2009, John and Sandra Bamkin thought they’d volunteer ‘while we’re here’. Nine years on the couple could have never imagined the amazing impact their friendly visiting would have or the ongoing friendships they would develop. No strangers to volunteering, having given their time to various roles throughout the course of many decades, the couple spent 22 years travelling Australia in their bus and gaining amazing life experiences, before moving to Horsham when John was given the chance to study IT. Joining the former Wimmera HUB, Sandra was involved in taking clients shopping while John volunteered as a driver, with their roles later evolving to friendly visiting; something the couple’s impressive background as counsellors no doubt benefits. And, aged a spritely 73 and 76 respectively, Sandra and John simply refuse to utter the ‘R’ word…retirement. “We have a laugh when people say they’re retired as we refuse to use that word; we have so much still to offer,” Sandra said. “Volunteering as friendly visitors is a lot of fun and we have developed strong rapport and friendships with the people we visit.” John agreed. “Plus, we get a lot out of knowing we can still be of use to the community, we like keeping active, and get to meet lots of nice people and have fun,” he said. If their counselling background was not impressive enough, the couple are also trained in IT, management, natural therapies, massage and training, and, during their travels, spent time living and working with Aboriginal communities. Visiting a client who was shy, closed off and did not engage with them to the point he initially refused to let them enter his home, the couple worked on the man’s engagement skills and are proud to now consider the client a friend who has most definitely come out of his shell since they met. “We’ve developed such a good friendship with this client, who loves going for coffee and drives, and even asked whether he could spend his birthday with us,” Sandra said. “We used to run meditation classes and brought him along. This helped him get out of the house and meet new people. Prior to our friendly visiting there is no way he would have ever done that.” Citing another of their clients who has some health issues and is socially isolated, the couple said the client was very happy to see them. Centre for Participation volunteer engagement officer Bren Gilmore said “John and Sandra’s results with our clients are just amazing.” “Exceptionally friendly and positive, the couple even have an open door policy at their home, offering young people a safe place to come for a meal or chat.” she said. John and Sandra said they had nothing but praise for the Centre for Participation in their management and encouragement of volunteers. “They go out of their way to ensure clients are matched with a suitable volunteer and, as a result, volunteers can be with the same client for a considerable time,” John Said Encouraging others to give volunteering a go, John said “If people have knowledge and skills they can share with others, self-worth and self-realisation can be a two way street.”