Janet CollinsWhere Would We Be Without Volunteers?
May 12th 2009 21:53
Volunteers would have to be the most important group that keeps our community humming along. They help out the elderly, the sick, the disadvantaged and they pick up where out governments and paid services leave off. Some use their skills in emergency situations.
For all that they do, these unnamed volunteers only seem to get some notice and recognition in a time of crisis. Earlier this year, Australia’s enthusiasm for helping out those in times of trouble was highlighted in the wonderful turnout for help to those caught up in the Victorian bush fires.
There are other volunteers who work year round helping those in our society who are less fortunate or to just make their local community a better place. This week is National Volunteer Week and it’s a time when we should all take a bow to some of the most giving people in our community.
The interesting thing is that I have heard very little of National Volunteer Week so I decided to do a bit of an internet search and there was very little on there also. It is a real pity that these volunteers don’t generate the headlines that other items do.
There are more than five million Australians who volunteer in a range of areas including community health care, heritage and arts, environment and conservation, emergency services, education, social justice and sports. Some of these provide what I think are essential services for the elderly such as Meals on Wheels and Easy Care Gardening. Some volunteers have been busily helping out for nothing for more than 25 years.
Ensuring an elderly person eats well is not only a great comfort to the person they care for or get the meals to. It is a service which would also give comfort to a lot of families relieving the worry that an elderly mother or father may not be looking after themselves or eating properly. There are so many examples of how these volunteers ease the mind of so many and make life so much easier for some.
For decades now, all that seems to be in the headlines is finance, money and shares, so it is pretty comforting to know there are so many people in Australia who aren’t obsessed with money and recognition. Unpaid workers make the most valuable contribution to our society by far. There are no free lunches or other perks and some of them work longer than those in paid work. Their “perks” are the simple satisfaction that comes from making someone else’s life more comfortable.
In a society where numbers in the elderly group keep growing and growing, these unsung heroes are now more needed than ever. It even means more as government pulls back further and further every year from providing some of these much needed services.
Surely some of our media outlets could give them a bit more of a rap this week than they are doing at the moment. They really deserve it. Most of us will need people like this one day so why don’t they hit the front page in this, the week that is supposed to be a tribute to them?
Image credit: www.abc.net.au.
| 95 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
I think it's hard wired into some of us.
My mother (despite being diagnosed with breast cancer six years ago) BTW - she has been in remission since - continued to selflessly do charity work during chemo and radiotherapy treatment for both the intellectually challenged and the elderly.
My fear is that as part of the 'what's in it for me world' that we currently live - that we start to see a sad decline in those willing to help others.
I hope I'm wrong.
Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
I hope you are wrong too. I was really surprised to hear that there are five million people who work for other people today. Probably because we only seem to hear about them in a time of crisis or emergency.
I think there will always be people willing to do this. Whether or not the numbers will decline remains to be seen.
People like your mum just make it their life. Luckily for all of us there are still so many of them around.
Thank you.
Comment by samaritan
Samaritan's Stories
I don't think it's just a matter of finding people who are willing to volunteer, there also needs to be people who are able to do it. For example, one of the groups of people that did a lot of volunteer work in the past were stay at home mums,looking for something to do while their kids were at school. But now, more and more of those mothers are working and don't have the time to do volunteer work. I know that my kids' school has a lot of trouble finding volunteers for the canteen, and I'm sure that has nothing to do with people not being willing. It's just more and more of the mothers are working.
I know for myself, I would love to do volunteer work. I used to do some volunteer work, but I had to give it up because there was no way I could continue to do it and make enough money to live on.
Another group that often do a lot of volunteer work are retirees, who are still fit and active and wanting to do something. Now, people often work longer than what they used to - and there are also more people who semi-retire before they actually retire. And so that's another area where there aren't as many people available to volunteer.
And I also agree with Mr Nice Guy. I think we do live in a 'what's in it for me' type world, where less and less people are willing to help others.
Samaritan
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
i think in Australia volunteers ar highly respected and recognised which is encouraging for people thinking of lending a hand
Comment by Mau-Medellin
Mau-Medellin
Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
Yes, it certainly is difficult to volunteer for any real length of time if you have to earn a living as well. I still take my hat off to those who do because a lot of others would be doing other things with that time such as playing golf.
People retiring later can certainly be a problem also but I get really confused with this one. Some people are working until really late and they are putting other people off well before retirement date (and well before they can afford to do full time volunteering).
Thanks for your comments.
Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
I have heard that one too. I think with all the generation groups there are some real conflicting descriptions. I have done a bit of volunteering in my life but nothing really all that substantial and certainly not for really long periods of time.
It's good to see that there a so many people so generous with their time.
Thank you.
Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
Is that the one in Sydney? At school we tend to want to do these things a lot more than we do once we start earning a living.
Some of these volunteers have been doing it for over 25 years. I think this is a sterling effort.
That is not to dismiss your good efforts at Nutcote.