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National Volunteer Week 2023

Date & Time

Mon 15 May 2023 to Sun 21 May 2023
09:00pm to 05:00pm

Ages

All ages

Cost

Free

Event details

This week we are celebrating and recognising the vital work of our volunteers.

Celebrating Volunteers in Cumberland City


Volunteering Milestone Awards

20 year award winners

Marilyn and Rose

10 year award winners

John, Myria, Diane, George, Nezire (Lesley). Janice, Kerryn, Luba, Edier, Dorothy

5 Year award winners

Adrienne, Angela, Bassam, Bede Higgins, Cecil, Jenifer, Joseph, Marlene, Rosa, Sidney, Suganthy, Susan, Win, Satya, Qifen (Frances), Chris, Yu, Lonie, Yvonne, Amanda, Brian, Stanley, Janaki

Hear from our Volunteers

Marilyn and John Behrens, Nutrition Services MOW Driver and Runner

How long have you been working with us as a volunteer?

Marilyn: I have been volunteering for Council for almost 28 years.

John: 16 years.

What has motivated you to work as a volunteer for such a long time?

Marilyn and John: It makes us feel good. And the people we meet are all very lovely.

Please share one heart-warming story from your time as a volunteer.

Marilyn and John: We enjoy talking to people when we deliver the meals. We greet each other, ask how families are going, just like friends.

What is the highlight of your volunteering work with us?

Marilyn and John: The people – staff, customers and other volunteers.

Anything else you like to share with us?

We are on holiday now in QLD, but we will return to our volunteer positions once we are back!


*Notes from the Volunteer Officer: Nutrition Services Driver and Runner help the Home Delivered Meals program on Mon, Tue and Wed, 10:30am to 1pm. Please join us if you like driving or “running”. Kitchen Hand positions are also available!

George Campbell, Auburn Library English Conversation Class Tutor

How long have you been working with us as a volunteer?

I have been volunteering for Council since 2012.

What has motivated you to work as a volunteer for such a long time?

I have 28 years teaching experience of teaching adults from different backgrounds. I wanted to continue to teach when I was retired so I started to volunteer for Council.

Please share one heart-warming story from your time as a volunteer.

I like talking to people from everywhere in the world. For me, they are the window of the world. Here, you see people from different cultural backgrounds become friends.

What is the highlight of your volunteering work with us?

The staff and customers are very nice in the Auburn Library and I feel I am still useful to people. It is nice to feel you are needed.

Anything else you like to share with us?

My volunteering experience at Library is quite well. I like it.


*Notes from the Volunteer Officer: You can be an English Conversation Class Tutor at any Library or Community Centre at Cumberland LGA teaching people English for 2 hours/week during the facility operation hours in school terms.

Tania Muti, Administration Assistant and Bush School Volunteer

How long have you been working with us as a volunteer?

I am quite new to the team. I started my role in August last year.

What has motivated you to work as a volunteer for Council?

I want to pay back to the community.

Please share one heart-warming story from your time as a volunteer.

I had nothing to do at home except for looking after the children before I started to volunteer. My friend, who is also a Council volunteer introduced me to the volunteer team. I did some volunteering with Children Services and it was so much fun! I talked to the local residents, prepared the programs and assisted the staff with setting up & packing up. I have more confidence to communicate with people now. And I get to know a lot of activities and programs organised by Council through my volunteering so I can bring my children to participate!

What is the highlight of your volunteering work with us?

The Children Services staff and the Volunteer Officer is very helpful. They value my work and try their best to achieve my goals. 

Anything else you like to share with us?

I am looking for jobs at this moment. But I would like to continue to volunteer even after I find a job, just because I like it!


*Notes from the Volunteer Officer: Children and Youth Services have many interesting programs and always look for volunteers can assist in the on-going or occasional events. If you love volunteering with children or young people, this might be for you!

Geoff Pearce, Bush Care Volunteer

How long have you been working with us as a volunteer?

I started in Aug 2020 and now it is 2.5 years.

What has motivated you to work as a volunteer for Council?

I want to do something for the environment. And it is nice to see people from different backgrounds have interaction.

Please share one heart-warming story from your time as a volunteer.

It is rewarding to learn from the local environment. There are so many species in our local area. I am surprised of the diversity of the plants in the native reserve.

What is the highlight of your volunteering work with us?

Friendship. I make friends through my volunteering. Some of them are volunteers and some are Council staff.

Anything else you like to share with us?

I think we should promote this program to the public, like school or community groups so we can have more volunteers to join us.


*Notes from the Volunteer Officer: Bush care volunteers will be taking part in plant identification, weeding and planting, supervised by qualified staff. Volunteers will be provided with required equipment and will be given onsite training in all aspects of the work including health and safety requirements.

Bich-Van Le and Jan Riggs, Centrelink Mutual Obligation Program participants

How long have you been working with us as a volunteer?

Bich: I started in Nov last year.

Jan: I started 3 months ago.

What have you enjoyed most being a volunteer?

Bich: I love to help

Jan: Everything, the people, the Staff. I didn’t think I would enjoy it but I love volunteering.

What are some challenges you face as a volunteer?

Bich: I feel my English is not good, but my English is improving every day.

Jan: Remembering their(customers) names.

Please share one heart-warming story of you while volunteering.

Bich: Everybody is nice and I feel comfortable. Everyone treats me nice.

Jan: A customer let me know that I was a good girl, “don’t you leave”. The customer made my day.

What is the highlight of your volunteering work with us?

Bich: Customers and other volunteers I work with and staff.

Jan: Everything really, it’s a good place to volunteer.


*Notes from the Volunteer Officer: Some Centrelink clients can choose to volunteer with a Centrelink approved voluntary work organisation, such as Cumberland City Council's Senior and Disability Services, to help meet their Centrelink Mutual obligation requirements.

Become a Volunteer

If you would like to gain valuable work experience, a chance to contribute to community life, the chance to meet new people and learn new skills, then think about volunteering! We have a variety of roles available, including bus driving, meal delivery and shopping. 

Find out how you can become a volunteer

Event Organiser

Council Event

8757 9000