November 24th, 2022Mark the date: December 5 is a significant day

INTERNATIONAL Volunteer Day is held annually on
December 5 to raise awareness of the important role
volunteers play in responding to challenges facing the world.
This year’s theme is Solidarity through Volunteering.
Volunteering Australia says the day is one to celebrate and promote
volunteering. “There are millions of volunteers in Australia and the
contribution that they make to communities around the country is
enormous. IVD is an opportunity to acknowledge, thank and shine a
light on the important work of volunteers.
“This year’s International Volunteer Day asks people to volunteer
now for our common future, it inspires people to take action now
for people and the planet. Encouraging, recognising and promoting
volunteerism is an important part of creating a more equal and
inclusive future for communities worldwide.
“Volunteers and volunteering has been impacted greatly by
Covid-19 and now is the time to invest and commit to reinvigorating
volunteering in Australia.”
This year The Local has highlighted 12 organisations (don’t forget
to check out the back page) but realises there are many, many more and
volunteers who don’t even belong to organisations. Perhaps they check
on neighbours, care for family, or just pick up rubbish once a week
around the streets – this is a real thing.
Those in our pages this edition range from neighbourhood houses
and show societies, to the 5000 Club and Hepburn Wildlife Shelter.
Then there’s also those who volunteer for Hepburn Shire Council,
Central Highlands Rural Health and Sunbury Cobaw Community
Health.
You will most likely know someone in the photos on these pages,
if not quite a few. And for anyone who is thinking about volunteering
in 2023 now is a great time to think about where your skills are, or
perhaps what you would enjoy the most. If you don’t enjoy it, you’re
probably not going to stick with it. That’s human nature.
One of the newest volunteers at Riding for the Disabled read about
the group in our pages some time back and thought “I could do that!”
and now does. And loves it.
Perhaps you need to find your tribe like those at the Daylesford
Community Op Shop where it’s more of a big family helping those in
need not only by selling donated goods but in myriad ways.
And if you don’t want to volunteer long term, you could always
choose something like Trentham’s Twilight Night and put your hand
up to help out for just one day a year.
Or, if your kids are at school, maybe ask if you can do anything to
help out to free up teachers’ time to teach – like what happens at the
little school in the bush at Bullarto.
Anyway, enjoy the read and have a think about whether you have
the time or inclination to make the world a better place. And if you
don’t, that’s OK too. Words: Donna Kell