Celebrating our volunteers

This May, Kiama Council celebrates our fantastic volunteers during Volunteer Week (15-21 May). We’re also promoting volunteering opportunities in our community with a Volunteer Expo at Kiama Farmers Market on Wednesday 17 May.

The Expo will allow local volunteer organisations – including the Lions Club, Red Cross, Rotary, Country Women’s Association and more – to hang out their shingle and recruit locals to their causes.

According to Volunteering Australia, 56.7 per cent of Australians volunteer either formally or informally. However, with volunteering on the decline in general, 83 per cent of volunteer organisations say they’re keen for more people to put their hand up for this vital and rewarding work.

Kiama Council offers a range of volunteer opportunities including at Blue Haven, our Family History Centre and Libraries, and at our Visitor Information Centre.

“No one has made it through life without someone else’s help. Volunteering matters profoundly. It builds communities and creates a better society for everyone,” says Imogen Draisma, Kiama’s Deputy Mayor.

Kiama Library and Family History Centre

Our two libraries and Family History Centre (FHC) have 25 volunteers who do 20 hours of work per week (collectively) in a number of different roles.

This year the library will host morning teas across the week to say thank-you.

“I love coming to the library to volunteer and select books for Home Library customers. I enjoy working with the library staff, and it’s always so peaceful and quiet, a real escape, a beautiful place for people of all ages.”

– Bea (Library volunteer)

“I really enjoy volunteering at the Kiama Family History Centre because I’ve gained greater research skills and have a sense of purpose in helping others connect with their genealogy.” – Jann (FHC volunteer)

Interested? Fill out a form via https://library.kiama.nsw.gov.au/using-thelibrary/support-us/volunteer

Visitor Information Centre

Our Visitor Information Centre (VIC) currently has seven volunteers who each work four hours per fortnight, providing around 16 hours a week of assistance to the centre.

Sell your wares on Diagon Alley

One of our VIC volunteers says: “I love Kiama and I enjoy helping people. Volunteering at the Visitor Information Centre is the perfect fit. The staff are great, and you always feel valued for your contribution.”

Interested? Pop into the Visitor Information Centre at Blowhole Point to fill out an application form.

Blue Haven

Blue Haven has around 80 volunteers who assist with many community-based activities. This includes driving or helping on community buses and/or cars, which transport clients to medical appointments, shopping trips, group outings and events.

Volunteers assist clients to attend day programs and activities including: musical reminiscence, pet companionship, arts, crafts, indoor bowls, bocce (a favourite), bingo, guest speakers, concerts and exhibitions.

Visits from local schools and pre-schools also provide the opportunity for intergenerational activities. Volunteers help make all of this (and more) possible.

Fred is one of our volunteer Blue Haven bus drivers, and also does volunteer work for Kiama Community Radio. We asked Fred about his work driving the Blue Haven bus:

“I’ve done about 140 of these trips over the 3.5 years I’ve been volunteering and find it interesting and rewarding.”

Why did you volunteer?

I had just retired myself and thought that it might get me out of my comfort zone and also give something back to the community. It certainly has been a great experience and is one I’d recommend to anyone.

What do you enjoy about volunteering?

Meeting a range of interesting people, while helping people and giving something back to the community. I enjoy talking to each of the clients about their family and life story and most people are very happy to have a yarn about anything that’s on their mind.

We’d love to hear more…

As I also volunteer for Kiama Community Radio, I obtained approval to interview any willing client about their interesting lives. These can be found on the KCR website under ‘Tales from the Blue Haven Bus’! Interested? Find out more at https://bluehavenillawarra.com.au/aboutus/volunteering/ https://www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/sorry-day

After a hugely successful first event last year, the Diagon Alley Twilight Magic Market at Gerringong Library is back again on Friday 14 July (3-7pm), and we are putting the call out for local stallholders, makers and performers who would like to participate.

Last year’s market saw Gerringong Library transformed with magical themed backdrops and lighting, and more than 600 people perused the stalls and enjoyed the live music, sipped on firewhiskey and butterbeer, snapped pics in the photo booth, had their fortune told, completed challenges and puzzles to win great prizes, and more. There is no fee for stallholders, visit https://library.kiama. nsw.gov.au/DA-EOI for more information and to register your expression of interest.

Each year Council hosts a local Sorry Day Ceremony to reinforce the community’s strong commitment to reconciliation. Sorry Day marks the start of Reconciliation Week. Locals and visitors are welcome to attend the outdoor ceremony and flag raising.

Amenities upgrades complete

We have completed the upgrade of two amenities blocks in the northern end of our municipality.

The work at Gainsborough Oval, Kiama Downs has provided two new women’s toilets, two new men’s toilets and an accessible toilet. At James Oates Reserve in Minnamurra, we have updated the women’s, men’s and the accessible toilet and added new showers. Both upgrades also included replacing wall and floor tiles and installing LED lighting, taps and mirrors.

The work was funded by the NSW Government Stronger Country Communities Fund and will assist female sports participation, as the old amenities were male-orientated and not unisex nor accessible.

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