Volunteering

The Shire of Coolgardie’s independently run Meals on Wheels service was recognised on a National stage this week, after winning the Meals On Wheels Australia Service Excellence Award for 2022 ... The program not only provides residents with free and nutritious meals, but it also became a welfare check on clients in our regional towns throughout the Shire.

It’s been an egg-cellent start to the Sunshine Coast turtle nesting season, with six nests laid in seven days. At sunrise on Friday, November 25, expert citizen scientist and Turtle Care volunteer Lesley Dimmock spotted the first turtle tracks on Buddina beach.

Felton Community Hall played host to the Cambooya Landcare Association 2022 Annual General Meeting last week, which saw the group retain a strong financial position and the current committee continuing into the new year ... The meeting included a presentation by guest speaker Ken Keith, who gave a background explanation of Agro-Ecology through his presentation ‘Transitioning to Agro-Ecology in Australian Agriculture - The Landcare Way’.

2022 has been a busy year for the staff and volunteers of the Victorian Goldfields Railway.  In addition to operating trains every Wednesday and Sunday throughout the year, 2022 has seen a very popular program of special trains operated, including Murder on the Orient Express Driver Experiences and the ever-popular Ales on Rails trains.

Lee Mead. Most of our local properties, roadsides and Maldon Historic Reserve are now free of large Wheel Cactus infestations.  This is thanks to many volunteers, landowners and contractors who have all been helping to destroy this noxious weed.

Patricia Gill. Denmark's first St Ayles Skiff headed through the channel at the Rivermouth on Saturday marking the end of the 10-month community project to build the boat. Organiser David Cliff reflected on the project, quoting Ratty telling Mole in Kenneth Grahame’s classic children’s novel, Wind in the Willows: “Believe me my young friend there is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much fun as simply messing about in boats”.

Major flooding of the Murrumbidgee River at Narrandera has led to the evacuation of residents in 14 households south of town. Warnings for major flooding are still in place. Narrandera Shire Council Deputy General Manager Infrastructure Shane Wilson said ... the volume of water flowing through the river in a 24-hour period was 130,000 Ml megalitres which equated to 130,000 Olympic swimming pools as against the normal flow rate of 40 megalitres. SES volunteers are keeping a close watch on water levels and checking on residents in low lying areas.

Over my life I have come to the conclusion there are two type of people: the “could have, should have, would haves”, and the helpers. The “could have, should have, would haves” are the majority. They would have handled things differently, ie, “you should have done things differently and then you could have not been in the trouble you are in”. They were out in force this week when television stations showed the frantic efforts to save broodmares in the Goulburn Valley floods.

Chris Oldfield. A high-ranking and prestigious SA Country Fire Service (CFS) award has been bestowed on Lucindale group officer Patrick Ross by State Chief Officer Mark Jones. The rare Chief Officer’s Commendation was awarded for Mr Ross’s leadership, decision making and keeping a cool head during critical emergency situations, while under intense pressure.

Chris Oldfield. A medal reflecting 60 years of incredible service has been awarded to our distinguished CFS member and author, Rex Hall. Since the launch of his successful book, Forty Flaming Years, in 2007, Mr Hall has penned three more. Mr Hall, one of Naracoorte’s favourite icons, was also a major force behind the town’s SA Volunteer Fire Fighters Museum.

Fltlt Nick O’Connor. Employers throughout Australia who went above and beyond to support their Army reservist employees were officially recognised as part of the state-based Employer Support Awards ... For Barkly-based physical education teacher Sergeant Pam Dillon, consecutive civilian employers have paved the way for her distinguished military career.

Mike Berry. With wet conditions over the past few years there has been significant growth, particularly of grasses which can quickly dry and cure if we have a burst of hot and particularly windy conditions, increasing the risk of fire ... A few months ago members of Dunoon RFS who were involved for extended periods in the 2019/2020 fire season were presented with a National Medal in recognition of their efforts.

The Alexandrina Council owned Paddle Steamer, PS Oscar W, is a major drawcard for locals and tourists to our region and will soon feature in its very own short film series following the amazing slipping and maintenance journey of our Friends of the Oscar W volunteer group. The PS Oscar W has just undergone its biennial slipping and maintenance to inspect and restore the historic paddle steamer and is a fantastic example of regenerative heritage in action.

At its Ordinary Meeting Southern Downs Regional Council recognised Joan Cronin for her significant contribution and dedication to the region as a volunteer at the Allora Regional Sports Museum ... “Joan is a shining example of an ordinary citizen delivering an extraordinary service to the community and I am pleased to recognise her years of selfless service”: Mayor Pennisi.

A helping hand: Former Denmark Citizen of the Year Roger Seeney is a strong believer in helping others and contributes to his community in many ways, including as an organiser of the annual Black Dog Ride, a national charity that raises awareness of depression and suicide prevention. He recently spoke to Serena Kirby about his life and the struggles which have shaped him.

Senior Australian of the Year 2022 and former Narrandera resident Valmai Dempsey of Canberra was one of ten Australians representing Australia at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II last week. Ms Dempsey, a St John Ambulance ACT Volunteer for more than four decades, has been a passionate advocate for first-aid training for learner drivers.

“The Treasure Trove has always aimed to sell beautiful, clean, affordable clothes and household items that are ‘preloved’ rather than tired and obviously second hand. We must have done something right because apart from our lovely regular locals, we have customers visiting from Perth and are now on the op shop tourist holiday trail": Ann Callen, Gingin Community Op Shop secretary.

ac.care. Caring adults living in regional South Australia are helping ensure the state’s most vulnerable children are safe and secure by welcoming them into their homes and families as foster carers. ac.care works with 81 carer households across the Limestone Coast, supporting more than 100 children. This diverse network of carers is dedicated to supporting young people and children in their care, providing love, stability and safety.

The past committee of the former Yanchep Redhawks Junior Cricket Club has recently agreed to distribute its unused funding to support local junior sporting clubs in Yanchep and Eglington ... 'Sport is such a valuable part of any community especially in these times of financial uncertainty that affect many people and sporting clubs': Robert Murphy, former YRJCC president.

The presence of Varroa Mite (a parasite of adult honey bees that weakens and kills colonies and can also transmit viruses) has exacerbated and magnified the regular stresses of beekeeping in Australia ... “Lead by beekeeper volunteers from around Australia, the eradication effort is progressing well; however, if NSW can't contain Varroa Mite, then it will eventually be everywhere in time, including Victoria”: Owner and Managing Director of Warral Maldon, Lindsay Callaway.