Surf Coast celebrate hard working volunteers

THIS week, the Surf Coast celebrates National Volunteer Week and the tireless work that volunteers do to drive positive change in the community one selfless act at a time.

In celebrating the occasion, Torquay volunteer and founder of men’s groups DIIGG (Doing Imperfect Inner Growth in Groups) Wellbeing Michael Judd reflects on volunteering and belives contribution to others is one of people’s core needs in life.

During the week, the Surf Coast Shire Council hosted Mr Judd as a special guest speaker at a community event which acknowledged local volunteers doing fantastic work in the area.

Mr Judd shared with the community his passionate mission to help provide men with a platform to connect and be vulnerable with each other, particularly targeting men who feel they are becoming disconnected from their community.

Held at a different Surf Coast venue and with a different special guest speaker each Sunday, the wellbeing sessions provide a supportive space that attendees can feel safe to share anything they have on their mind.

With the 2023 National Volunteer Week theme being The Change Makers and celebrating volunteers’ ability to drive change and inclusion’, Mr Judd said volunteering is all about “operating out of the heart.”

“It’s about serving others and making a difference in our community, taking your eyes off yourself and helping someone else,” Mr Judd said.

“If you deny people the right to contribute you can actually deny them feeling good and wanting to help.”

During this week’s National Volunteers Week, the Surf Coast Shire Council also acknowledged volunteers at a series of morning tea events in Anglesea, Lorne and Winchelsea.

Councillor Adrian Schonfelder said it was a privilege to celebrate all the tireless work that volunteers do in the local community.

“[The] dedicated week is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate our selfless volunteers, who are in many instances unsung heroes in our communities,” Councillor Schonfelder said.

“They sacrifice that precious thing – their own time – to help our communities tick, often working in the background.

“Maintaining the clubrooms, or serving on committees, caring for the vulnerable or disadvantaged, or the environment, keeping the books, creating connections or providing warm and welcoming environments at our fantastic community houses – the scope of their work is immense and the value of their work simply cannot be measured.”

Volunteering Australia said the annual weekly celebration was a vital way of recognising the support that millions of people provide to their communities, whilst encouraging others to consider it themselves.

“National Volunteer Week 2023 is a celebration of our power to drive change and ensure volunteering is inclusive of all members of the Australian community,” a Volunteering Australia spokesperson said.

National Volunteer Week wraps up this Sunday (May 21).

For further details on the Surf Coast Shire Council’s Volunteer Week events, [email protected]