NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK Making a World of Difference National Volunteer Week is celebrated across Australia during May each year. The theme for 2019 is “Volunteers Make a World of Difference”. The benefits to Australian society, and any society for that matter, are numerous in terms of the contribution to the economy, welfare of the community and for the volunteers themselves. Volunteers contribute an estimated $290 billion to the national economy annually, yielding a 450% return for every dollar invested. Australian volunteers collectively volunteered 932 million hours in their local communities in 2016 (Volunteering Australia). No doubt in 2019 this figure has grown. Volunteering plays a vital role in enabling connection which helps to alleviate loneliness and isolation not just for the recipients of the many services but for the volunteers themselves. According to Volunteering Australia 93% of volunteers saw positive outcomes as a direct result of their voluntary participation. Volunteering is not just a great way for many to gain valuable work skills but also to pursue interests outside of work, leading to better balance in their lives overall. Many volunteer organisations provide vital social services to the less fortunate. The positive impacts to our society are seen worldwide - the equivalent of 109 million full time workers. According to Volunteering Australia “Volunteers are recognised as vital contributors towards the achievement of the seventeen UN Sustainable Development goals”. This year, to thank our members, many of whom volunteer not just as JPs or Cdec but with many other organisations, QJA marked the occasion with an afternoon tea for our members. We asked our members to tell us their volunteering story, and here are some of their inspiring accounts:
“I enjoy serving my local community. I enjoy the interaction with people. I’ve met so many fascinating people in being a Justice of the Peace. I’m looking forward to my future with great anticipation”. Peter T, Maroochydore “My volunteer story is much the same as others. I have been secretary at the P and C at my children`s schools, helped at their sports clubs, clean our church on a roster, still help children read at my grandson`s school. Until last year, helped at the same school on Monday for the toast and milo morning. My son, now in his forties, had a head injury when four, which meant he found it hard to learn to read, so between work, I helped children then, reading” Mary B, Lockyer Valley “I am dedicated to providing a service for people in Hervey Bay. I really enjoy my ability to volunteer for my community”. Carol G, Hervey Bay “Volunteering is just a natural progression for me. What you give freely, you receive 10-fold. I still work, so life can get busy, but honestly, helping people in need is a true joy. Even something as little as doing a certified copy of something or as big as helping someone move a loved one to a nursing home, or as exciting as helping police do their job, all equally as important as each other and I LOVE it”. Francesa E, Maroochydore “I have been a volunteer in many different ways since I was 11 years of age, starting as a Library Monitor in my Primary School Library. I continued volunteering in my High School Library grades 8-12 which gave me the skills I needed to gain employment as a ‘shelver’ at the State Library of Queensland.
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Serving Queensland’s Honorary Justices since 1918
Nearly 30 years later and still working at the State Library of Queensland, I have also volunteered on the DrugArm Street Van, within cricket associations, Toastmasters International and most recently as a Justice of the Peace (QUAL) since 2017” Jason T, Brisbane “In 2014 I got my Australian citizenship and from the first day of being an Australian citizen I decided to become JP. I wanted to support the community as well” Mohammad A, Maroochydore “I have been volunteering since about 1990. Turned 80 last month, still feel I can give some more. Volunteering is a two-way street, will keep on until I have to stop” Pat D, Maryborough “The only thing I had not lost was my JP status. I lost my home, family, belongings, job and so much more. Being a JP and volunteering kept me going as I had some purpose. Volunteering and helping others helped me!” Anon, a member who was homeless whilst a volunteer JP “I was unlucky enough to contract Bells Palsy where I totally lost my voice and with that my volunteering. Now after 7 operations on my voice box I’m hoping to return to working with my wonderful peers again. I have kept up my professional development and also do a lot of work from my home” James T, Maroochydore “I visit our local hospital, retirement villages, as I am 83 years young, I find only the aged seem to know what aged people need. Also enjoy talking to them.” Janet C, Rockhampton “I have been a JP for 61 years and am still working at my duties for the District as a caring member.” Douglas C, Noosa “For probably most of my entire life, I have been involved one way or another, in some sort of unpaid community involvement. There is still plenty of community work to be done, and while the body holds up, I will be there to do my small part.” Brian O, Roma “I enjoy being available and enjoy being able to both assist and offer my services and do not hesitate to suggest that the issue being brought to me is out of my scope. It is interesting that some of my locals have visited for over 6 years and they have expressed their gratitude for me being there for them and having a constant reliable presence.” David L, Brisbane “While I guess my volunteering is not a huge story my philosophy is if a person needs help, I must step up and help them. Like I would hope if I needed help there would be someone around to assist.” Elizabeth A, Victoria “We are the volunteers you need regardless of your status and we treat you all equally without prejudice, then at the end of the day walk away from the power till next asked to serve again. This is why I volunteer as a JP (qual) a commitment to integrity and honour in a system that every person needs, even when they don’t realise it. “Mark W, Maroochydore “If people hadn’t helped me during my life, I wouldn’t be here today to help others. In closing I would like to say volunteering is like a drug, once it’s in your system you never want to give it up. If you know anyone who says they are bored they have never been a volunteer.” Marguerite N, Logan …..Continued on page 11.
