Volunteer collective helps village thrive
If a Stratford tourist attraction is going to continue to thrive more volunteers are needed.
Pioneer Village has about six regular helpers but volunteer coordinator Raewynn Hodge said more were needed to keep the facility functioning and looking tidy.
‘‘It’s first impressions that make the difference,’’ she said.
Hodge hoped volunteer groups could even step forward to take responsibility for an area of the extensive facility.
Volunteering at the Village was perfect for anyone wanting to fulfil childhood fantasies of driving a train because more locomotive operators are needed. Full training is given.
‘‘It’s a continuing job and I think more often than not it’s older people who actually have time to volunteer and for that reason we can’t expect people to be here forever and a day either,’’ she said.
‘‘The time they can actually spend is limited.’’
Education officer Daphne Bland said she enjoyed every moment spent at Pioneer Village because she had the freedom to choose her own hours, something offered to all helpers.
‘‘They come when they have time, we have no set time and I think that’s important,’’ she said. Hodge agreed.
‘‘We rely totally on volunteers. We have a limited paid staff and the whole thing really depends on volunteers. They’re just so important and we just can’t stress that enough.’’
Hodge said it was important to keep the facility in tip-top shape because of what it represented.
‘‘We need to keep it so that we can preserve it and share it and pass it on to other generations. If it’s not looked after now that won’t happen.’’
Hodge said so much of what was on show helped youths to understand the past.
‘‘A lot of young people wouldn’t recognise the equipment, wouldn’t know and understand that they were a necessity of life,’’ she said.
‘‘People depended on those things and I think that’s important for education because it does teach appreciation of things.’’
Hodge said respect for history was important because it helped to grow the future.
‘‘Everything here is authentic, genuinely used equipment that people have give us.’’
Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Raewynn Hodge 06 765 5399.