Volunteering catches on

Volunteers from more than 30 different organisations showed up in droves to spread the word about their respective causes at the first Volunteer Expo on 24 May.

The expo, which was held alongside the Farmers Market in Kiama at Coronation Park, saw a massive turnout for a Wednesday afternoon as volunteers played games and chatted with guests to encourage them to join.

According to Volunteering Australia, there were more than 5 million people who formally volunteered for a non-profit in 2020, and 6.5 million that volunteered informally. These figures have dropped over the past decade, and 83 per cent of organisations say they’re in need of more volunteers.

The Bugle caught up with a few volunteers to find out why Kiama residents should do their part to volunteer.

The Country Women’s Association (CWA) is one of the most well known organisations in regional Australia, but Kiama branch representatives told us it’s not just about baking scones, though they still indulge in the occasional “sconversation”.

CWA’s most recent initiative in Kiama was to donate $3000 to Kiama High school for the next three years because “no child should be embarrassed about their financial situation”.

The money will assist students to buy uniforms, take part in extracurricular activities and more.

“Women should join for friendship and to be involved in the community,” Dianne Tierney of the Evening Branch.

The NSW Rural Fire

The annual Parkinson’s walk in the park event, which raised over $12,500 last year, is again inviting the community to walk along the waterfront at Kiama harbour to raise vital funds to support people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Two free exercise stations, a warm-up for the walk and a 15 minute dance exercise, will be set up at Black Beach along with Rotary’s beloved sausage sizzle barbeque.

Tickets will be available on the day for one of their biggest raffles yet with over 20 prizes on offer including a ride in a Mustang to Berry.

All proceeds will go to the Kiama Parkinson’s Support Group and Parkinson’s NSW which will fund nurses and the health line.

On the day, the Group’s Local Community Hero Award will be presented to exercise physiologist, Sarah Clem, who always goes out of her way to help others.

Sunday 4 June, Black Beach, 12-3pm by Cassandra Zaucer

Hipages censured

Service branch brought along one of its service vehicles, which proved a big hit.

When asked why people should join the RFS, Steve Whitmore had one word for it “community”.

One organisation you may not be familiar with is the University of Wollongong’s Graduate School of Medicine, which needs volunteers for its simulated patient program. Volunteers act out scripted role-plays by presenting symptoms so medical students can practise diagnosing them.

UOW’s Shawn Tyler explained why everyone should volunteer.

“It’s a proven fact that people who volunteer have better mental health outcomes than those that don’t.

“So it’s actually good for the mind, good for the body and good for the soul.”

Hipages – a popular platform that connects tradies and small businesses to people wanting quotes for work – has admitted it engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct.

Between October 2018 and January 2022 it failed to adequately disclose contract terms that allowed it to automatically renew subscriptions and charge an early termination fee.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) deputy chair Mick Keogh says, “When some people attempted to cancel their auto-renewed contracts, they were told they would have to pay out the full 12-month term.”

Subscription prices for tradies and small businesses vary between $25 and $999 for six or 12 months.

The ACCC didn’t state whether Hipages would face any financial penalties but the company has provided the ACCC with a court-enforceable undertaking to clearly disclose its subscription, renewal and cancellation policies.