Torquay community volunteer Michael Judd identifies with the belief that contributing is one of people’s core needs in life.
“It’s about serving others and making a difference in our community, taking your eyes off yourself and helping someone else,” he says.
“It’s about operating out of the heart.
“If you deny people the right to contribute you can actually deny them feeling good and wanting to help.”
Michael has made helping others a passionate mission as founder and inspiring force behind Surf Coast men’s group DIIGG Wellbeing and will share his insights as part of Surf Coast Shire Council’s National Volunteer Week celebrations.
Council will acknowledge and celebrate community contributors with a series of morning and afternoon teas during the week – at Anglesea, Lorne and Winchelsea community houses at 10am on Monday 15 May, and Deans Marsh Community Store and Council’s Torquay civic building at 2pm on Thursday 18 May.
A celebration for members of the many Community Asset Committees, which manage halls and recreation reserves on behalf of Council, will be held in Council’s chambers on 24 May. This event will feature the launch of a video highlighting the contributions of the committees. A youth event will also be held at Wurdi Baierr Stadium on 15 May.
Michael will be guest speaker at the Torquay community event.
While any volunteers are welcome to attend National Volunteer Week community celebrations, the new youth event and the Community Asset Committee event in Torquay will be invitation-only.
The 2023 National Volunteer Week theme The Change Makers celebrates volunteers’ ability to drive change and inclusion.
“This dedicated week is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate our selfless volunteers, who are in many instances unsung heroes in our communities,” Councillor Adrian 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.”
As chair of Deans Marsh Community Asset Committee Madeleine McCarney is also familiar with the volunteer ethic and contributing to community.
The committee oversees maintenance and use of a range of Council facilities including the town’s community hall and cottage, reserve and pavilion while liaising with user groups and community members.
“I guess I’m a great believer in looking for solutions rather than looking at what might get done,” Ms McCarney says.
“So if you put your hand up you can be a part of that.
“Things happen for us at a grass roots level and even though facilities are technically owned by the Council we are the ones using them, so we know best what we need and what opportunities are there.
“We can advocate for ourselves and collaborate with shire officers for better outcomes rather than expecting someone to do it for us.”
Volunteering Australia says National Volunteer Week recognises the vital support that millions of people provide to their communities, and encourages more people to consider volunteering.
“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,” the organisation says.
People seeking information on Council’s National Volunteer Week events can phone 5261 0600 or email info@surfcoast.vic.gov.au
