National Volunteer Week (15th – 21st May) is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering, with Warrnambool Mayor Debbie Arnott taking the opportunity to thank volunteers for all that they do.
“Warrnambool simply wouldn’t be the vibrant, liveable place that it is without the quiet efforts of an army of incredible volunteers,” she said.
“Earlier this month Council allocated $110,000 to 29 community groups via our Community Development Fund.
“Looking through the list of recipients, every single one of them would have volunteer involvement, and it just shows how vital volunteering is in so many areas of our community.
“At Council, volunteers play an incredibly important role too. Our Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver 20,000 meals each year to support older residents in the community, volunteers at the Visitor Information Centre provide a warm welcome to Warrnambool for visitors and what would Flagstaff Hill be without our costumed characters?
“That’s just a few of the many areas at Council where volunteers are involved, and we will be holding a special event on May 18 to officially show our gratitude.”
New research released by Volunteering Australia this week indicated that following a sharp drop-off in volunteer rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteer numbers are on the rise with over two-thirds (69 per cent) of volunteers now back in person.
“It’s encouraging to see that volunteer numbers are beginning to recover, but as I’m sure many community groups locally and across Australia would attest, we are still some way off pre-pandemic levels,” Cr Arnott said.
“One of the things COVID-19 reinforced is the importance of community connections, both for the happiness of individuals, but also as a way of building a resilient, caring society.
“So this National Volunteer Week, I’d encourage everyone to have a look at some of the volunteering roles available in Warrnambool, or create your own, and have fun while helping others.
“Volunteering is one of the most powerful things you can do to make a difference in your community.”
To learn more about volunteering visit www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/volunteering