Support register in good health, Saundry to step down as chair

THE Bellarine Community Support Register (BCSR) has bounced back from its pandemic lows following a major registration push from volunteers.

BCSR chairperson Leonie Saundry says the register, which dipped to as low as 1,300 registrants in 2022, has now increased its database to almost 1,500 residents in the space of a year and a half.

“There has been a whole bunch of movement with the register in recent years, both up and down, due to a variety of reasons,” Ms Saundry said.

“During the pandemic we had a number of residents pass away, relocate outside the Bellarine, or move into aged care, and as a result we really had to actively recruit residents to the register.

“It was a massive effort for our band of volunteers, and it took a lot of work, but we’ve done a good job to get the register back to a healthy level in that time.”

In addition to the register’s 40 volunteers, Ms Saundry said the organisation is on the lookout for digital-savvy additions to the team.

The BCSR has spent the last two years transferring all of its paper files to a digital system and has almost completed the task.

“As we continue to transform the register into going digital, we are in need of volunteers that have a desire or passion when it comes to data entry, fundraising, marketing, and administration,” Ms Saundry said.

“We’ve expanded our target group to people of other age brackets and updated our database, now we just need people to help maintain these changes.”

The BCSR will also make a major change to its structure at the end of the year with Ms Saundry set to step down as chairperson at the next annual general meeting slated for October.

The register is looking for an outgoing, community-minded person to take on the mantle.

“We’re coming up to the end of the three-year strategic cycle, which is when I will step away from the role, it’s a great chance for us to introduce some fresh blood and new ideas within the business world,” Ms Saundry said.

“The chairperson’s role is to drive forward the strategic focus of the organisation and is a role that I’ve greatly enjoyed for the past two and a half years.”

Two more committee meetings in June and August will take place before this year’s AGM. Ms Saundry will again nominate to stay on the committee in 2024.

Anyone eager to volunteer or nominate as chairperson is advised to reach out to the register at [email protected].