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Contact us on 08 8563 8495, email [email protected] or visit us at www.barossa.sa.gov.au
Dear Reader, Welcome to our Winter Issue of Volunteering Barossa & Light news. It’s been a busy few months in the Volunteering Barossa & Light office; Thankyou week in May is always a happy time in the volunteer calendar and it was fantastic to see so many celebrations happening and all the great coverage in the local papers. Since the distribution of our Autumn issue we have been pleased to see a rise in the number of organisations and volunteers using our service and keeping us busy! Winter is of course the time of year we
all like to stay home by the fire and keep warm, but it’s also a great time to think ahead. If you’ve kept putting that plan to volunteer off, then this is the time to get involved. You can go to our website www.barossa.sa.gov.au and fill out an expression of interest form online, no need to even leave the house! Thanks to everyone that has sent us feedback on the newsletter - keep it Coming! Jo Parker Phillips, Volunteer Co-ordinator
Opening times are Mon to Fri 9am to 12.30pm
Nuriootpa Library, 43-51 Tanunda Rd, Nuriootpa, SA 5355
If you need an afternoon appointment let us know
Conversations with two Mayors ... “It’s the Spirit. The Australian way,” was Barossa Mayor, Brian Hurn’s comment when asked about the importance of volunteering. “It’s the spirit of the community. We are so fortunate to have a vast array of individuals and groups giving their time and effort to serve the community and enrich the lives of others.”
Mr. Hurn spoke of the valuable work done by the ‘section 41’ committees, community clubs and organisations and also the unheralded volunteer who “just pops in to see you’re OK.”
“Without volunteers Council and community services would be greatly reduced. Community is like an orange, when you peel it there are segments that work together to create the whole and volunteers are a huge part of that.”
“The Barossa Council has demonstrated its commitment to volunteering with the development and support of Volunteering Barossa & Light, I encourage the community to make use of the services they provide.”
Mayor Robert Hornsey of Light Regional Council too had high praise for volunteers.
“I am very pleased to be part of an area that has such a fine record of voluntary contribution from its community. Through-out Light Regional Council it is
apparent that the character of the area has been created by the contributions of residents. Many community services and resources were achieved by volunteers seeing a need and acting upon it.”
“I am constantly amazed at the individuals who have accepted responsibility for their communities by playing such a vital role in decision making, and active management of services, which would not exist if not supported by volunteers.“ “I read this quote somewhere that sums it up perfectly….. ”
“Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a term, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in.”
Volunteering Barossa & Light
Winter 2010
This is your space to tell us about a special volunteer or simply to say thanks.
Send your message to [email protected]
Contact us on 08 8563 8495, email [email protected] or visit us at www.barossa.sa.gov.au
What kind of volunteering activities do I want to do?
Indoors? Outdoors? In an office? On a committee? Something familiar that you already know how to do? Something that teaches you
new skills?
What am I hoping to gain from my volunteering experience?
Friendship? Feeling that you’re contributing to the community? Something that enhances your
resume? New skills? Feeling that you’re making a difference?
Is there a particular organisation or cause that I am passionate about or interested in?
Maybe the environment? Perhaps a group that has helped you or someone you know?
Perhaps you have an interest in working with children or in a heritage environment?
How far am I prepared, or able to travel? Perhaps you know you want to volunteer in your own town? Perhaps you want to volunteer from home? Maybe you would be prepared to travel some distance for your ideal volunteering role?
How much time am I able to spare? Are you able to volunteer on a regular basis or would you prefer to become an event volunteer? What days / hours are you able to commit to on a
regular basis?
Once you have asked yourself these questions you will be able to narrow down the type of volunteering you want to engage in.
Still confused? Try chatting to other volunteers to find out about
their experiences, or contact us.
There are also a wealth of volunteering websites, here are just a few ….
Local www.barossa.sa.gov.au www.gawler.sa.gov.au
State www.volunteeringsa.org.au www.ofv.sa.gov.au
National www.volunteeringaustralia.org
Global www.worldvolunteerweb.org
Thinking about volunteering? There are a wide range of choices available, so to help you narrow it down here are some questions to
ask yourself . . . .
Did you know these volunteering titles are now available to borrow from your Library?
Beyond Police Checks: The Definitive Volunteer & Employee Screening Guidebook
Proof Positive: Developing Significant Volunteer Recordkeeping Systems
Policies for Volunteer Programs: A Manual for Executive Directors, Board Members, & Managers of Volunteers
What we learned (the hard way) about Supervising Volunteers: An action Guide for Making Your Job Easier
KickStart: Young Volunteers Shape the Future
Volunteer Management : Mobilizing all the Resources of the Community
Help! I- Don’t -Have-Enough-Time Guide to Volunteer Management
Better Safe...Risk Management In Volunteer Programs & Community Service
From The Top Down: The Executive Role In Volunteer Program Success
When Everyone’s A Volunteer: the Effective Functioning of All-Volunteer Groups
Volunteer Management: An Essential Guide 2nd edition
Children as Volunteers - Preparing for Community Service
Keeping Volunteers: A Guide to Retention
The Volunteer Recruitment ( And Membership Development) Book
Building Staff/ Volunteer Relations
a BIG THANKYOUBIG THANKYOUBIG THANKYOUBIG THANKYOU to all our drivers for their contribution! A special mention to Ron Kubisch Ron Kubisch Ron Kubisch Ron Kubisch and Brian Keen Brian Keen Brian Keen Brian Keen for time spent on many bus trips and also to Greg and Liz Austin Greg and Liz Austin Greg and Liz Austin Greg and Liz Austin for driving at least two days per week and helping out whenever we are really stuck! From Leah Bonner and the team at Community transport
“I would like to tell you about
volunteer Dean Messner - He has volunteered
with Lutheran
Community Care for a year now and is
invaluable. Dean volunteers on Wednesdays in the
reception office and on Thursdays as a budget
counsellor. He lives in Nuriootpa, is married to Helen,
has five children and seven grandkids. He loves
watching cricket, fishing, Asian cooking, and
writing. His hidden talents include juggling!
We just wanted to say thanks for your time
Dean.”
From Leeann Kruger and the team at
Lutheran Community Care
ps - here at the office we happen to know Dean also volunteers at the Doddridge Blacksmith Shop - busy man!
Volunteer Sarah Dixon
At the Volunteering Barossa & Light office we are constantly amazed at the wide variety of local volunteering opportunities and the services that simply would not exist without volunteers. One such example that has recently come to our attention is The Barossa Regional Gallery. When we spoke to Maz McGann (gallery director) she could not over-state the importance of volunteer contribution.
“The gallery would not be what it is today without volunteers, their contribution is absolutely vital,” said Maz.
The gallery is situated within the Tanunda Soldiers Memorial
building on Basedow Road. Once inside the unassuming exterior you’ll find three gorgeous individual spaces housing the latest exhibition. The third gallery is also home to the beautiful Hill and Son grand organ, the painstaking restoration of which is yet another example of amazing
volunteer commitment.
On the Thursday morning we popped in we were greeted by volunteer Sarah Dixon. She is
one of over forty volunteers who give their time to opening up the gallery each day. “Some of the t eam vo luntee r weekly, some of us maybe just once a month, people give what time they have,” she says, “most
of us have an interest in the arts but there is no need to be an ex-pert, people skills are what is re-quired.” Sarah, who has been a gal-lery volunteer for the last six months clearly loves the social aspect of chatting with the tourists
and locals who visit the gallery. “We get to meet such a variety of interesting people,” she says.
“As a Barossan I feel that we are just so lucky to have this space.”
If you would like more information about joining the gallery volunteer team please call Maz McGann on
8563 8415 or email [email protected]
The Fine Art of Volunteering
The gallery - Basedow Road
Contact us on 08 8563 8495, email [email protected] or visit us at www.barossa.sa.gov.au
Workshops a great success We often hear that people don’t have time to travel to Adelaide for training, so when we found out that Volunteering SA had funding for regional training we were first in the queue!
It was Volunteering Barossa & Light’s first venture into organising workshops so the team were a little nervous about how the community would respond and whether anyone would turn out. As it was there was no need to worry; the people of the Barossa and Light regions showed a fantastic desire to expand their knowledge and soon all our workshop places were booked up.
Volunteering SA trainer Teresa Forrest ran the four workshops; Skills for Committee and Board members, Supervision and Leadership, Conflict Resolution, and Grant Applications.
Unfortunately she lost her voice in the process, and by the last session was bravely whispering into a microphone to be heard!
Attendees came from a wide range of organisations such as The Barossa Vintage Festival, Make a Wish Foundation, The Soroptimists, Williamstown Community Council and Barossa Leisure Options.
Feedback was really positive :
“a fantastic workshop! Very relevant”
“exceptional presenter, good motivator”
“courses also provided great networking opportunities to meet other community people”
“keep the courses coming” - we do plan to keep the courses coming. If there is something specific that you would like
us to provide do let us know. In the meantime if you are able to get to Adelaide, check out Volunteering SA’s website for the full range of courses available at : www.volunteeringsa.org.au
Margaret on Monday
If you should happen to visit our volunteer office at Nuriootpa library on a Monday morning you’ll most likely be greeted by volunteer Margaret Fiebig. Margaret, who lives in Nuri, has been donating her Monday mornings to us since April 2009. “I really enjoy working in the office,” she says. “I like meeting people and improving my computer skills.” This is by no means her only volunteer role, she also helps out with the library home service, the Schaedel Cottage Christian gift Shop and is involved with her church. The Volunteering Barossa & Light team would like to thank Margaret for taking on the un-popular Monday morning shift!
Grant Approved for Nuriootpa Silver Surfers
“We need to bring them into the 21st Century, kicking and screaming if necessary!” These were words spoken by Nuriootpa Seniors Club Vice President Werner (Ted) Hoffmann when he came to Volunteering Barossa & Light seeking help in finding a grant to get internet access for the club.
Volunteer Grants advisor, Maurie Dow, soon came across a Federal Government initiative called Broadband for Seniors and began the application process (which ironically had to be done online!)
Once all the stages of application and assessment were completed the grant was finally approved. Broadband for Seniors was to become a reality. “It was a long
process, but we got there in the end,” says Maurie.
The $10,000 Federal Government grant supplied two state of the art computers, complete with internet access and web-cams, and also desks and chairs.
The facility aims to provide access and training for members of the community who are over fifty in how to use the Internet for communication and information gathering.
The program will have volunteer tutors available to give one-on-one training in how to use tools such as email and the internet.
To facilitate the training aspect of the program plans are underway for Nuriootpa High School students to become
volunteer tutors. The students are able to gain credits towards SACE by volunteering. The idea of this cross generational exchange has been met with enthusiasm by members of the club, “if you need to know how it’s done ask a teenager!” said one member.
The program will be up and running in the very near future - watch this space for details or contact Nuriootpa Senior Citizens Friendship club on 8562 2695.
If this has inspired you to apply for a grant,
or to initiate a community project, and
you’d like some help please contact
Volunteering Barossa & Light - we’re here
to help!
Lyndoch Area - Play an active role in the preservation of native bushland and the flora and fauna of the unique Altona Reserve area.
Youth focus - Carers’ Link Young Carers Program are looking for volunteers to assist with activities for young carers. Why not join our fun-loving team?
Coffee Shop Assistant - An opportunity to be involved in a dynamic community venture serving all ages and backgrounds through Connections Coffee Shop.
Put a smile on a patient’s face! Various health centres are looking for volunteers to make ward visits to hospital patients. Choose the hours to suit you.
Make someone's day! - Would you like to make regular visits to older people who are in a home and have no other visitors? Good conversation and empathy a must.
Can you knit or crochet? The Barossa Library is looking for volunteers to teach knitting and/or crochet to small groups of school age children.
For info on any of
these positions,
contact
Volunteering
Barossa & Light
Op Shop - Nuriootpa Seniors Op Shop is looking for friendly, helpful volunteer shop assistants. Negotiate a work-time to suit you. No experience necessary.
Volunteer from home! Do you have 15 minutes a week to spare to make a phone call to an elderly person? Calls are made from your own phone, costs reimbursed.
Short term assignment - Volunteers are required to visit people discharged from hospital to provide company and assistance once or twice a week over a 4 week period.
“Each citizen should play his part in the community
according to his individual gifts.”
Plato
Library Assistant - Carers Link are looking for motivated and organised volunteers to set up and run their carers resource library. Hours to suit.
Volunteer Vacancies
Contact us on 08 8563 8495, email [email protected] or visit us at www.barossa.sa.gov.au
