Volunteering

Succulent Fest, hosted at Bunker’s Hill State School, is increasingly becoming a flagship event of the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, this year’s staging attracting over two thousand visitors and raising nearly $12,000. This year marked the sixth staging of the event, organised by group of volunteers under the P&C Association of the school.

Sean Cunningham. The decision to keep Lockhart Airstrip opened has proved to be a good one with a group of workers regularly toiling hard to maintain it. Early last year, Lockhart Shire Council was considering closing the airstrip, however after many submissions were received requesting council to reconsider its proposal, council agreed by resolution to continue with the lease of the airstrip.

Maureen Donnellon. Zone meetings of Historical Societies are always important gatherings held twice a year to hear from the 20 groups who comprise the Midland Zone ... Much research is done for sporting reunions as well as family research and Elaine has given countless hours of her time as a volunteer, a very worthy recipient of her award.

From major flooding and storm response to countless emergency calls and bushfire support, the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) Broken Hill Unit is celebrating 40 years of saving lives and creating safer communities. Formed in 1984, the NSW SES Broken Hill Unit has a proud history of protecting the people of Far West NSW during floods, storms, and other emergencies.

We are a collective of CFA Brigades in Districts 16 and 18 who have taken a position where our Brigade will not commit to operating on or around electricity generation and transmission infrastructure by taking a perimeter only defence position except for where lives or safety of public is threatened. Specifically, this is Renewable Energy Infrastructure (REI) being wind turbines, large-scale solar and battery installations, high voltage (220 kva plus) transmission lines and connection hubs.

Joanna Tucker. "Our primary mission was to utilise our skills and existing expertise to provide assistance to US teams who have been battling these fire complexes since July. Our secondary mission was to provide learning opportunities, and to understand how (the US experience) may improve our existing capabilities and strategies when managing fires in SA": Kadina CFS volunteer Justin Baxter.

Andrew Bayles’s early aerial photograph speaks for itself. Every available parking space had been taken up well before football’s senior grand final ... On Saturday, Donald delivered a “double whammy” with a record-breaking grand final day alongside the Borung Highway, as well as a widely broadcast race meeting on the Donald racecourse, little more than a stone’s throw away from the football, netball and hockey.

Serena Kirby. A committee has been formed to help secure an electric commuter van. The move is to reduce social isolation, created by Denmark’s lack of community transport. This commuter van will offer a green transportation option for community groups and residents.

An innovative portrait project at Uniting Caroona Yamba by renowned local artist Harry Westera is uniting residents and staff, fostering a friendly community and preserving precious memories ... When his wife Grace, a Pastoral Carer at Caroona Yamba suggested he volunteer he took up the opportunity, and in 2 years he has hand drawn 91 portraits of residents, 52 of which adorn the walls of Caroona, with more being added regularly.

Madison Eastmond. A Berri equine charity is searching for volunteers so its therapy services for the wider Riverland community can continue ... Over the past three years, Miracle Park Stables have provided therapeutic avenues for those struggling with mental health and/or have a disability to build self-esteem, self-efficacy, resilience and emotional regulation skills through a variety of programs.

The Directors of the Regional Community Vet Clinic (RCVC) are delighted to announce that after years of hard work to find a suitable location, they have finally secured a permanent home to build their clinic. The clinic, which will be wholly owned by RCVC, will be the first Not-for-Profit community veterinary clinic in regional Victoria.

Serena Kirby. Denmark Senior High School emergency services cadets gathered last week for a meet and greet with Local Government and Youth Minister Hannah Beazley. Ms Beazley, who is also Emergency Services Minister Parliamentary Secretary, said the cadets program was the favourite thing in her portfolio.

The night sky in Kaniva has a new star attraction: a colour-changing windmill, the crowning achievement of a three-year community-driven lighting project that has transformed the town’s main street. From purple to blue, red, green, and gold, the windmill now lights up with subtle hues, adding a splash of color to the town’s nighttime landscape.

Volunteers have been kept busy at the Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre (NAHC) ... During the week members of the NAHC Board entertained the Governor of Victoria, Her Excellency Professor Margaret Gardner AC and her entourage.

As the community eagerly awaits the arrival of the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour visit to Mt. Wycheproof, it’s timely to shine a spotlight on the incredible volunteers at the local community hub – the Wycheproof Op-Shop. These dedicated individuals are often the backbone of our community, working tirelessly to raise funds for vital initiatives that make a real difference in our town.

Firefighting capabilities and support to better protect residents in south-western NSW and the food bowl in the Riverina have received a $3.9 million boost. NSW Rural Fire Service Chief Superintendent Kelwyn White officially opened two new brigade stations and upgraded training facilities, handed over five firefighting trucks and recognised more than 160 volunteers in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) this week.

A team of CFS volunteers and staff are heading to the United States this morning, ready to assist with dozens of wildfires burning across the country’s west. The eight-member SA deployment will travel to Boise, Idaho, to help fight major fires in the Pacific Northwest, across the states of Oregon and Washington.

Joanna Tucker. Kadina CFS volunteer Justin Baxter is flying to the US this week to help fight some of the 85 wildfires burning across the country, following an SOS call put out by officials. The Moonta Bay resident ... is scheduled to reach the state of Idaho ... to start his mission, along with eight more South Australians and a host of other Australian firefighters ... Mr Baxter said he had undergone an intensive training program to be ready for the 40-day deployment.

Ian Riley. A well-known feature of Maldon is its distinctive stone gutters, correct? But what does this have to do with the fire station? Well, everything, as I learnt after speaking with Darryl Walker, an amazing guy who has been a volunteer firefighter for over 60 years. That’s around the time the Beatles came to Australia.

Narrandera Landcare had a great turnout of people wanting to help on Sunday for its National Tree Day community planting. Thirty-five volunteers helped put around 800 seedlings into the ground to replace some of the vegetation lost in the last floods.