WHERE THE POWER IN OUR CITY REALLY LIES

SO we were subjected last week, in the Bulletin, to our Power 100 list. Not sure exactly what this represents – hope it’s not the power list as in strength and fitness. We’re in deep trouble if it was meant to be that.

Never forget folks, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely!

The list did raise an idea from one letter writer to the paper during the week, which I thought was a cracker.

Why doesn’t the Bully do a Power List of Volunteers in our great city? Good question.

What an outstanding idea. Now that would be a list to get everyone interested and involved. I love it.

Where would you start? How would you grade it? Oh, the problems it throws up.

But it’s no good having problems without solutions – and they are at hand.

Just don’t give the list of recipients a place. Don’t rank volunteers in some degree of order, just give them all a position as in, they made the list. So, no ranking of numbers, just a list of 100 people who go the extra yard to jump in and help as a volunteer within our city.

Simple – recognition without any jostling or debate about who might be better than whom, or who does a more important role.

Just plain and simple acknowledgment in our city of some outstanding community members who go the extra yard, help make other people’s lives that bit easier, contribute in the community they live in to make it a better place for all. Powerful stuff.

We have so many wonderful people who help out, give of their time not only freely but willingly. To be honest, the list probably needs to be 500, not 100.

I really admire people who volunteer. As a community asset, it is right up there. It is to be appreciated and held in the highest regard. And these people come from all walks of life – rich and poor, talented and keen, decent and deserving, young and old. They all have the common thread – they want to help their fellow members of the Gold Coast community or people who are visiting our beautiful city.

They all do an awesome job and we all need to be extremely grateful.

Some are just mums and dads helping out in schools in a vast range of roles; some guard our beaches and ensure it’s safe for us all; some do all they can to assist charites and causes; some look after animals; some help out in hospitals and hospices; some assist in churches; some help make our sporting events or our kids’ sports function; some are the backbone of sporting clubs; some cook sausage sizzles; and some protect our community in all manner of ways.

Volunteers work in all varieties of capacity and in all categories of jobs. Collectively every single one of them is important. Of that there is no doubt!

No question it would be a challenge to develop a list. Perhaps people could send in nominees, so that everyone in the Gold Coast community could feel a sense of ownership.

This newspaper could be a beacon to reach out to every walk of life and develop a sense perhaps of those who are most deserving of recognition.

I know the mob will engage on this.

In the meantime, there is one thing we can all do that would help make these tens of thousands of volunteers feel special for their commitment and time they put back into the community.

We can say thanks.

It’s not hard, doesn’t take long and guess what, both parties feel the benefit – you for showing a small token of gratitude, and the volunteers because they are being appreciated.

It’s a win-win. Never take these good folks for granted. We need each and every one of them, they are all special.

These people fuel the real power on the Gold Coast.