National Volunteer Week in Hobsons Bay 2021 - Stories and images of inspiration

Volunteering PHOTO EXHIBITION 2021

National Volunteer Week in Hobsons Bay

Stories and images of inspiration and courage, from volunteers from all walks of life, making an impact locally.

Adam Longshaw Altona Magic Soccer Club

Adam Longshaw Altona Magic Soccer Club As a parent with active kids, I have always supported being involved in team sports and with a keen interest in soccer this was the natural alignment. Being involved with Altona Magic as a coach for many years, it was natural that the longer you are aligned with a club or organisation the more you appreciate what needs to be done to ensure it operates effectively.

All community clubs need help and as such my volunteering support sees me coaching, undertaking some general administration tasks, ordering uniforms and working with Hobsons Bay City Council to ensure we have a safe, inclusive and inviting facility. It is certainly diverse and if you enjoy variety - volunteering in a sporting club certainly offers this.

Having spent many years in a corporate role which took me away from family and our local community, in 2019 I had the opportunity to re-evaluate my work life balance with an opportunity to give back a little more to the community that serves our kids and residents. As such I took up the opportunity to undertake pure volunteer work in something quite different to my previous working life.

CONNECT www.altonamagic.com.au facebook.com/altonamagic twitter.com/altonamagic altonamagic@hotmail.com

For me, aligning the activities I undertake to my broader interests was key to ensuring I had a sense of enjoyment in the work I am doing - focussed on helping others whilst supporting the sport I love, both for my child and others. Certainly, given the year we had, seeing the kids come back after COVID, starting to laugh, and enjoying being together as a team has certainly been the highlight in 2021. Hopefully, we can give them a complete season!

My advice for people considering getting involved as a volunteer is; be prepared to be un-prepared. There is always something to do and this may not always be your natural skillset. As such you need to be willing to try things.

Also, many hands make light work so the more people you can have involved in a club or charity the better, therefore be prepared to recruit and ask for help. Lastly, I would say the more organised you and the club or organisation can be, the easier it will be. This last statement is sometimes easier said than done!

Andreas Petropoulos and Christine Kan The Substation

Andreas Petropoulos The Substation Hiya! My name is Andreas, I’m twenty years old and I’m an emerging film/theatre creative. I have been quite fortunate to have had extensive experience in the professional field simply by the means of volunteering.

During the completion of VCE in 2018, I ventured out into the area of creative companies, organisations and above all, festivals, all entwining to reflect the beneficial elements of volunteering in an increasingly busy and oversubscribed artistic landscape. Through this, I have learnt, adapted, laughed, networked and understood to a whole new level, strengthening my ideals and career prospects for future creative and professional endeavours of my choosing by working with artists and their works, coordinating projects and facilitating operations.

Having done extensive volunteering for the past few years now, I’d say the best things about being involved are the people and the opportunities. From a people perspective, being able to talk to and understand a person’s creative vision, how they see it realised and what they want the audience to take from it is truly important in the grand scheme of things and for me to take that and amplify it makes me feel like I am part of something truly special. The availability of creative knowledge and networking is also truly a fulfilling aspect of volunteering. Through opportunities, I have had the greatest pleasure working with amazing talented and professional artists, some younger than myself, as well as the works themselves, fuelling my own creative thinking and practices in the process.

At the beginning of 2019 I felt as though, creatively, I was in limbo. However, something eventually ignited in me - the prospect of discovering a new dawn. As cheesy as it sounds, I was able to accomplish this through the means of extensive research into and communication with creative companies, organisations and festivals.

Nonetheless the honeymoon period came to an end and the eventual reality check slapped me in the face: the lack of responses. The dread was disappointing but the sheer amount of fishing I did eventually granted me a payload which, to this very day, still pays off regarding opportunities and networking. This is why I got involved: because it establishes an imperfect depiction of professional activities but nonetheless shows that it will always and forever be acceptable to start from the bottom and work your way up.

Furthermore, it’s not about money, it’s not about what’s easiest, it’s not about distance and it’s not about reward.

Volunteering is about feeling effortlessly alive and feeling like you are making a significant contribution to something deemed special in the eyes of the creatives and the viewers. It’s about an understanding of all things imperative to your chosen field and if you’re lucky, you will find ways to step up that ladder of life and begin to see the bottom from a completely different height altogether.

CONNECT www.thesubstation.org.au www.facebook.com/TheSubstationNewport 03 9391 1110 info@thesubstation.org.au

Christine Kan The Substation My name is Christine Kan. I moved from Hong Kong to Melbourne four years ago, and I am studying a Master of Arts and Cultural Management at the University of Melbourne. Prior to studying, I worked in a university in Melbourne coordinating student mobility initiatives.

My recent volunteering experience is facilitating as an invigilator for a beautiful exhibition in The Substation in Newport, titled ‘Spooky Action (at a distance)’ by artist and filmmaker Amos Gebhardt as part of PHOTO 2021.

As a new student of my masters degree, I am keen to take part in a variety of arts and cultural events and projects in Melbourne to enhance my study experience, not just as a participant but as a contributing member such as a volunteer. Such valuable experiences will give me good exposure to the local vibrant cultural scene and a taste of the work culture of the sector. This will not only prepare me well for my future career, but also give me satisfaction through contributing my time and effort to the industry and community that I am committed to and support.

It is certainly a rewarding experience as my first volunteering experience in the local arts sector. On the personal level, my interest in the arts and meeting people was fulfilled as I had the chance to interact with a wide range of people which I would not be able to do so otherwise. Through talking to the artist featured in the exhibition, a producer of one of the video works, company staff, visitors and other volunteers, I gained an insight of various views from the industry practitioners and audience. It stretched my mind to look at things

from different perspectives. This also helped me hone my interpersonal and communication skills as well as teamwork capability which will improve my resume/ profile and competitiveness in future job interviews.

I found it amazing that this experience boosted my level of confidence in taking up new opportunities and reaching out to people that I am not familiar with.

It gave me more talking points in and outside of class. Not to mention I made new acquaintances with company staff and volunteers with shared values and common interest which broadened my social network.

All of these are important to me as a relatively new immigrant to this country.

I highly recommend residents to take the initiative to join a volunteering activity that interests you. You will be surprised what you will get from that experience – the sky is the limit! Regardless of your age and cultural background, or skill and time that you have, there is always something you can contribute to your community. No contribution is too small or trivial, your volunteering effort will not just support a particular organisation, your passion and generosity will make a positive influence to other people in the community.

By doing so, your volunteering experience will make you become a better person and our world a better place to live in.

CONNECT www.thesubstation.org.au www.facebook.com/TheSubstationNewport 03 9391 1110 info@thesubstation.org.au

Ashish Gandre, Bridget Kirsch and Tammy Todd Seabrook Community Garden

Ashish Gandre Seabrook Community Garden My name is Ashish Gandre and I am a volunteer at the Community Garden in Seabrook’s Homestead Run Reserve. As a founding member at this garden, I started by attending the inaugural planting session once the garden beds were assembled by the Council team and then watering and tending to the herbs and plants on an ongoing basis along with the other volunteers. I also helped coordinate designing the signage for the garden with the help of Hobsons Bay City Council.

As a relatively recent resident in this neighbourhood, I have found the residents to be kind, generous, and helpful. I was looking for avenues to give back to the community and this opportunity to start a community garden presented one of the ways I could. Volunteering in the community garden, along with participating in the garden/produce swaps being organised on a more regular basis post lockdown, has brought me in contact with other residents who have varying degrees of gardening skills, from absolute novices to professional/ retired horticulturists. It is wonderful to meet and discuss gardening with them. Seeing the herbs and plants thrive is quite pleasing too! I also bring along my kids when I visit to water the garden and it has definitely made them more interested in gardening and volunteering.

I often hear friends and acquaintances complain about the lack of time to volunteer. Let it not be a deterrent.

There are always many opportunities available in the community for residents to give their time and they can choose where, how much or how little they would like to volunteer - in this case, offering to water the plants, helping organise garden swaps or meet-ups, or tending to the garden. Think of it as an investment for the betterment of your community and your involvement will be appreciated by all!

CONNECT www.facebook.com/groups/1709440225918289

Bridget Kirsch Seabrook Community Garden Hello, my name is Bridget Kirsch and I live in Seabrook.

I have been involved with the Seabrook Community Herb Garden for many months now. This is a community herb garden in our local park, Homestead Run, that has been established for the community to use. I was invited to be part of the initial planting team during lockdown as I had eagerly watched the park’s renovation with my young sons, which included the installation of the garden beds.

Since the garden’s establishment I have been part of the team of locals who regularly water the garden and look after it. I have also created a Facebook group to promote the garden in our local community and to facilitate its care.

Gardening has long been a passion of mine, some of my fondest memories are gardening with my own mum growing up and I look to share the love of growing your own food with those around me in my community. I believe it is important to be part of a sharing community, where we can each take what we need and leave some for others. We have also used some of the herbs from the community garden during monthly Garden Swap Meets, where locals can share their produce with those in their local community. Each bringing something to share and taking something you need or will use.

What has brought me the greatest pleasure from being part of the garden is involving my two sons, aged 5 and 2, in caring for the garden. They regularly join me when it is time to water and weed the garden beds. They are always keen to check up on the garden when we visit the park for a play. It lights up my day seeing their joy in a simple action of using a watering can to care for the plants and telling those walking past that the garden is for everyone and we look after it together.

I highly recommend to others to find a way to be part of their local community. It helps to build relationships with those around us and creates a greater sense of connectedness between us all. There are so many ways you can contribute, it can be as small or as big as you want. It all matters and helps to build your community into a better place. Finding something that you are passionate about and sharing that passion with those around you will make a difference.

CONNECT www.facebook.com/groups/1709440225918289

Tammy Todd Seabrook Community Garden My name is Tammy Todd and I am a volunteer with the Seabrook Community Garden.

I got involved in the Seabrook Community Garden to help the community and myself!! I thought it was a great project to bring the community together and to educate and expose our residents to different things. I love when I am down at the park watering and when little children come up and ask questions with a genuine interest in the garden, or the delight in little children when you pick them a little flower to take home.

Seabrook is a very active community. For quite some time, myself and a few others in the neighbourhood had been sending submissions to Council requesting upgrades to our local park. We had a large oval covered in weeds, a mediocre playground and an old BBQ. Much to our delight Seabrook was chosen for a major upgrade. One of our local councillors helped us, as well as the Council parks officers. Over a few months we met with the design team and our park has been transformed into an amazing space that is always buzzing with residents. The Seabrook Community Garden is located within our local park and is an important use of this space. A member of our community recently started a garden produce and swap group too that meets once a month. We are happy that our little community garden has thrived well enough to share produce on those days.

I do enjoy pottering around my garden at home, but it is often met with failure. Getting involved at Seabrook Community Garden was a good opportunity to meet with other likeminded gardeners, to learn from them and benefit the community at the same time. Around 5.30p.m. you can often see me dash down to the park to grab some fresh herbs to go with dinner.

The best thing about being involved in the Seabrook Community Garden group is meeting new people. It seems harder to do this as an adult than it did as a child.

We live in a very diverse community and this project has brought many of us together. With the easing of COVID restrictions I hope that we can meet up more often to do some gardening together.

My advice to residents considering being involved in volunteering is “do it”! I have been a volunteer in Hobsons Bay for over 20 years. When my kids were younger, I volunteered in organisations that revolved around them, but there are so many opportunities in Hobsons Bay that everyone can find something to do. It can feel overwhelming at the start but persevere and within a matter of weeks you will feel like part of the furniture too.

Take a leap, get out of your comfort zone and meet some really nice people in your own backyard. If last year taught me anything it was the importance of living within a caring community. We are very lucky to live in Hobsons Bay.

CONNECT www.facebook.com/groups/1709440225918289

Kate and Daniel Community Pantry Seaholme

Kate Community Pantry – Seaholme Hi, I’m Kate and along with my neighbour Daniel, we host a community pantry in my driveway in Seaholme.

Daniel approached me during the lockdown and shared his story of a colleague who had brought the Pataka Movement to Hoppers Crossing as a way of supporting families whose circumstances had changed drastically.

We pooled our resources, put a call out on the Altona and Seaholme residents Facebook page for items we needed and the Community Pantry was constructed over a weekend.

The local community are as much a part of this as Daniel and I as it is the community who keeps the pantry stocked. One local lady made an online Coles order and 6 crates of goods arrived at the pantry. Others pull up with bags of items and restock it. The generosity, openness and community spirit in Seaholme and Altona is incredibly unique and despite the horrendous impact COVID has had, the sense of connectedness and community has never felt stronger. While we abide by the rules of The Pataka Movement, we are essentially an informal volunteering initiative for the local community.

Although the pantry is located in the driveway, we never approach anyone accessing it as I feel strongly about people having a sense of autonomy. I keep the pantry clean and ensure all food items are within date but that is where it ends in terms of engagement and that comes from a place of respect.

My interest in participating comes from a lifetime of volunteering beginning as an 11-year-old earning a Girl Guide badge. I grew up in a family of ‘others before self’ and saw my parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents all volunteering in different ways. I have volunteered in formal and informal ways, on a big scale and a small. Every volunteer experience has enriched my life immensely. The experience of the giving of one’s time and energy without monetary reward is pure nourishment for your soul. And you will ALWAYS receive far more than you ever thought possible from the experience. We all have something to offer so get involved in a way that works for you.

CONNECT People interested in accessing the pantry, donating to the pantry or being otherwise involved should contact the group via Louis Joel Community and Arts Centre, Altona.

Daniel Community Pantry – Seaholme My name is Daniel. I have played a small part in setting up a community pantry with my neighbour Kate.

I do not want to be lauded but I do want to make sure people are aware that this pantry is available.

I work in the aviation industry. Due to the pandemic, I was stood down for most of 2020 and am still only working part time. I saw first-hand how quickly circumstances can change both financially and emotionally. I am lucky being surrounded by a great community of supportive family, friends and neighbours.

For some though, they found themselves (overnight) in the need of support they never thought they would need. This can be very confronting for most and I wanted to help.

I was so inspired by a colleague also in the aviation / travel industry, who during the beginning of the pandemic helped organise the Pātaka Movement here in Melbourne. “Pātaka” meaning pantry in Maori.

After speaking to my neighbour Kate (who volunteers much of her time to the community), we decided to bring this support to our neighbourhood. I also believe there are others in Hobsons Bay and the surrounding communities.

This pantry is for everyone. The philosophy is “take what you need, give what you can”. No questions asked, without any judgement, and privacy respected.

It really is a community pantry where we are all helping each other.

Volunteering can be very rewarding. You can formally join a group, club, charity or a movement and by working together with like-minded people can achieve great things. This can help a specific cause and/or can benefit our community we live in. However, volunteering can also be very informal. It can be just the way you live your life, by helping someone when you can with what you can, no matter how small, or it can be as simple as being nice to someone. A smile to the right person at the right time can be enough to have an impact on someone’s life for the better.

If anyone needs a little support (as we all do sometime in our lives), or wants to contribute, whether it’s short term or ongoing, as little or as much, please come and utilise YOUR community pantry.

CONNECT People interested in accessing the pantry, donating to the pantry or being otherwise involved should contact the group via Louis Joel Community and Arts Centre, Altona.

Jo McMahon and Sarah Frazer Buy Nothing Group – Altona Meadows and Seabrook

Jo McMahon Buy Nothing Group – Altona Meadows and Seabrook I’m Jo, a queer, non-binary person living in Altona Meadows with my children. We have been part of this community for almost six years. I have a long history of volunteering. Since I’ve been in Hobsons Bay this has included running babywearing peer support classes, mamabake groups, playgroups, attending local tree planting days, being part of community group committees and boards as well as pro-bono advocacy and consulting work. One of my strong values is for community development and personal contribution gifting my own time and resources where they can be used to benefit others in my communities.

In 2017 I learned about the Buy Nothing Project - a grassroots initiative with a goal of fostering an international network of diverse, inclusive and equitable local gift economies in which people learn to trust in abundance and our shared desire to help others through sharing. I started the Altona Meadows & Seabrook group within this network and over the past four years have enjoyed watching it grow and thrive. The values of the Buy Nothing Project are strongly aligned to my own building communities, sharing resources, being able to ask for help when it is needed, gifting from abundance, reusing and repurposing unwanted items, reducing waste and not engaging in unnecessary consumerism.

One of the best things about being involved in the Buy Nothing Project has been seeing the community pull together to support our neighbours, particularly over the 2020 lockdown. Our group saw many requests for items to support isolating at home, remote schooling and kindergarten, DIY projects and other necessities. Jigsaw puzzles and books were a popular gift for a while! While the rules around not making unnecessary trips out of the house were in place, we encouraged members to pick up or deliver gifts during walks for exercise or shopping trips and using contactless handover where possible. I loved seeing members offer to pick things up from one household and deliver to another, when people didn’t have easy access to vehicles or were housebound or caring for others.

I feel a sense of gratitude when I see items gifted to others who can reuse or repurpose them and extend their useful life. Our society is often geared towards disposable, replaceable items and I appreciate every time something is saved from landfill.

If you’re considering getting involved in volunteering, I recommend thinking about the things you are passionate about and finding something that aligns to that passion or your values. And if there’s nothing out there - build it yourself! Put out a request through social media or your neighbourhood networks for collaborators and create the community that you want to be part of.

CONNECT www.buynothingproject.org Search ‘Buy Nothing’ and your suburb name to find your local neighbourhood group.

Sarah Frazer Buy Nothing Group – Altona Meadows/Seabrook I’m Sarah, I live in Altona Meadows with my partner and our 12-year-old daughter and 18-month-old son. I’m a volunteer admin for the ‘Buy Nothing Group’ (BNG). The BNG aims to offer people a way to give and receive, share, lend and express gratitude in a hyper-local community setting. The aim of the BNG is to create connections between neighbours, to foster a sense of community amongst its members. The BNG aims to help the environment by encouraging neighbours to reuse/recycle and upcycle unwanted material goods to keep as much as possible out of landfills.

My part in all of this is to participate in the group, uphold the main tenets of the Buy Nothing ethos and help to create a welcoming, inclusive, and safe space for our neighbours to give, receive, lend and share. Mostly this means filtering requests for membership, working with other BNG admins in neighbouring groups, deleting sales posts and ensuring everyone in the community is doing the right thing.

I moved to Altona Meadows with my family in December 2018. We didn’t know anyone in the area, so I joined a few neighbourhood groups on Facebook hoping to keep up to date with what was going on in the community, and maybe meet some of our new neighbours. Not long after I had my baby son, I saw one day that Jo was looking for a co-admin and the values and principles of the BNG really resonated with me, so I volunteered, did the training and here I am! Being a new mum, stuck at home a lot and without much company during the day, I really valued being given the opportunity to become a bigger part of such a wonderful, generous community and to make some connections with my neighbours.

The best part of volunteering for the BNG is feeling like I’m a part of the community. I have met some lovely people though the group and made some meaningful connections. I feel like volunteering for this group has helped me to feel more at home in this suburb where I didn’t know anyone, and I also feel like we help people. People reach out to me for a chat, or to air their grievances. Neighbours have asked me to ask for donations on their behalf when they need a hand.

A really nice part of this is going down the shops and you see people you may have met only because you’ve gifted to them or they’ve gifted to you, and we smile and say hello… it’s just nice to see a familiar face, or feel like I know people in the community now.

To anyone who’s considering getting involved, DO IT! Why not? You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

We’re really fortunate in this part of the world, we have lots of neighbouring Buy Nothing Groups and they all have their own special community feel. You might save a few bucks picking up something useful from a neighbour or help someone out with your unwanted treasures. You might even make some new friends.

There are so many opportunities to volunteer and give something back to your community, become a bigger part of it. You might make a difference in someone else’s life, develop some new skills or learn something new. Meet your neighbours, meet others from all walks of life and make meaningful connections with the people you may not otherwise have met.

CONNECT www.buynothingproject.org (This website provides Facebook links to local Buy Nothing Groups located around the world, including groups based in Hobsons Bay.)

Sarah Thompson Inner West Mainly Music

Sarah Thompson Inner West Mainly Music My name is Sarah; my husband and I have two children and have lived in the Hobson Bay area for 15 years. I am currently involved in a number of volunteering roles within our local community, mainly in the playgroup field. This includes Inner West Mainly Music as a team member and Coordinator of Newport Baptist Playgroup. I also facilitate the Hall Hire and Social Media at Newport Baptist Church, as a volunteer too.

In 2016 with the opening of the Newport Hub, including some new local family friendly cafés and as a mother of young children myself, I could see and felt the need for a local community playgroup. Together with the support of the Newport Baptist Church, myself and another local mum started NBC Playgroup. Over the past 5 years we have welcomed over 200 families!

When the Mainly Music program started in 2019, I was now a “school mum”. I was trying to navigate yet another life path, from being a full time stay at home mum, after putting my former career on hold after having my children.

I reached out initially, as support to the newly started local playgroup and to offer my time if needed. I was also keen to meet others in the local community who shared a similar story to mine; interests and lifestyle choices such as volunteer-based community groups that support local families. I eventually became a weekly team member and continue as part of the team today.

Over the years, I have made some amazing life-long friendships and connections through volunteering within our local community. The time spent doing different jobs as well as working alongside others has also boosted my own confidence, even having been out of the workforce for a number of years. Also unexpectedly, however very gratefully, I have been given the opportunity to enter back into the paid workforce, with one of the organisations I have volunteered with, in a different capacity than playgroup.

Any time that is volunteered is important time! Whether it is 30 minutes or a couple of hours a week, it is very much appreciated. If you’re looking to make new connections or boost your confidence returning or entering the workforce, volunteering is a great way to meet people and grow and learn new skills alongside others.

CONNECT www.willichurch.org.au www.facebook.com/innerwestmainlymusic 03 9397 5715 office@willichurch.org.au

Sonja Ilievska Williamstown Community and Education Centre

Sonja Ilievska Williamstown Community and Education Centre My name is Sonja and I am currently the President of Williamstown Community and Education Centre (WCEC).

I have lived in Williamstown for 18 years with my husband and two (now grown up) children. WCEC operates out of Joan Kirner House and Spotswood Community House providing education and skill development as well as family support and social activities to our community within the Hobsons Bay area. My volunteering activities here are usually done after hours, which suits my busy work schedule by allowing me to contribute to my local community in a different way to most of our other volunteers at our centre. My activities include and are not limited to: collectively determining the strategic direction of the centre, going over agendas, budgets and financial reports, liaison with the centre manager on strategic matters and partnerships, attending meetings and centre events, ensuring the centre is compliant and meets community needs.

I got involved with the centre after I realised my children needed less of my time as they got older and more independent. I wanted to connect with my local community beyond my immediate neighbours and see if I could be involved with creating a positive impact on a local level. My professional background is in compliance audit and risk management and I have been able to bring this experience to the committee of management at WCEC as part of my voluntary governance role at the centre. It has been great to be able to contribute in a way that fits in with my experience, lifestyle and values.

The best thing about being involved is the meaningful connections and friendships I have made during my time at the centre. Also, gaining insight into how diverse our community is. It has given me real clarity on the fact that nothing is a ‘one size fits all’. When I get the chance to attend during the day, I am often overwhelmed at the bustling activities going on, seeing all the smiling faces and people chatting over a cuppa. We hear about all our programs and activities at our meetings, but it is always so rewarding to see the centre bustling with activities and people connecting in a common inclusive and safe environment.

My advice for others thinking about volunteering is definitely get involved in any way you can. I never thought I could contribute in a meaningful way, as I worked business hours. I just found a way that fit in with what I could offer - time wise. So, even when you think you don’t have the time, it is so rewarding and is also a twoway street. You benefit as much as you give back, from a personal perspective, by knowing you have made a difference and had an impact on something you value, fine tuning/developing your current skills and particularly working with a great group of people.

CONNECT www.williamstown-spotswoodcc.org.au www.facebook.com/WilliamstownCommunityAndEducationCentre 03 9397 6168 admin@wcec.com.au

Vesna McDonald Vinnies Newport

Vesna McDonald Vinnies Newport My name is Vesna McDonald and I am 59 years old. I have been volunteering with Vinnies Retail Shop for almost 8 years now. I also had the privilege of being a member of the Newport Vinnies Conference for 3 years. Initially I had some spare time and noticed the sign asking for volunteer support outside the Newport store. After many, many years in the corporate world I thought I could lend a hand and give back to our community. Funnily enough, after all these years I can honestly say I have actually gained significantly more from my Vinnies experiences than the time I have put in.

Volunteering a few hours each week I have gained many new friendships, learnt about the importance of connecting with people from many diverse backgrounds within our community and just how important our shop is to many vulnerable and lonely folk in Hobsons Bay and beyond. The obvious are helping gather, clean and prepare donations for sale to raise the funds that can be dispersed to those in need across the many charitable arms of the Vinnies network.

The not so obvious is seeing the passion and commitment from the store’s leadership team to ensure everything for sale in the shop is reviewed for quality and is priced fairly to maximise the benefit to the customer purchasing, and respectful to the donator giving to raise best funds for overall charitable purposes. Items not deemed of the right quality are recycled or repurposed to ensure minimal waste. Our store recycles metal and soft plastics too - we are united by the passion and work ethic of our leadership team to be carbon neutral.

I have been blessed to spend time with students from nearby schools on work experience, and with special needs volunteers who have thrived and grown in independence due to the excellent mentoring provided at our store. I have been taught to cook wonderful Thai curries and tasted exquisite treats from many cultures that the variety of volunteers have shared over the years.

I have four young grandchildren who love the adventure and safety of hunting for treasures at Vinnies Newport and giving high fives to all of their Vinnies friends. Importantly they are learning about recycling, leaving treasures for others to find and in being patient and waiting their turns.

The Vinnies Newport experience is about the quality of the experience, speaking to everyone and acknowledging everyone - not just the consumption of items.

We offer a safe and warm environment for people who need to connect with others. During the early COVID lockdowns last year our shop remained open with limited volunteers to enable those in need to make essential affordable purchases and also just for conversation for the many people who need a chat, especially the lonely and vulnerable folk. I have made so many new friends my grandchildren say, “Nanny knows EVERYBODY in Newport”.

My Vinnies experience has reinforced the expression of ‘never judging a book by its cover’. Share your knowledge and experiences, and be kind to each other. The rewards for doing so are abundant. At Vinnies Newport I have made priceless connections that I will treasure and maintain for as long as possible. If you have any spare time please consider assisting at our shop, we are always looking for extra hands to help with the variety of tasks whether your passion is front of shop or sorting manchester, clothing or books in our engine rooms out the back.

CONNECT Vinnies Newport Shop 3-5 Mason Street, Newport VIC 3015 www.vinnies.org.au 03 9391 7090 newport.centre@svdp-vic.org.au

Peter Bainbridge U3A Altona

Peter Bainbridge U3A Altona My name is Peter Bainbridge, and Judy and I moved to Altona in late 2013. I am currently president of U3A Altona.

U3A stands for the University of the Third Age and offers a wide range of classes and other activities for retired and semi-retired seniors. I also volunteer at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook. I am part of a cleaning team there, which helps to preserve the historic aircraft on display at the museum.

When we moved to Altona, I was looking for some interesting and rewarding volunteering activities. I also thought it would be a good way to get involved in the local community. In 2014 I started taking a range of U3A classes, and later joined the U3A Altona committee. Also, I have always been interested in aviation, so volunteering at the RAAF Museum really appealed to me.

There are a range of benefits from volunteering, including meeting and working with new people, learning some new skills, and giving back to the community. Keeping active both physically and mentally should (hopefully) be good for personal longevity!

My advice for people considering volunteering is firstly explore the huge range of volunteering options available in Hobsons Bay, and then just go for it. Aligning your interests and skills with volunteering opportunities should make the time spent volunteering very rewarding. Be careful not to take on too much – your health and family are always the first priority. Don’t be afraid to say no if you are asked to do too much. Getting the right balance can be a bit tricky, as many community organisations are very short of volunteers.

CONNECT www.u3aaltona.org.au https://www.facebook.com/U3AAltona/ 03 9398 1346 altonau3a@yahoo.com.au

Michael Saxon Youth Referral and Independent Person Program - Centre for Multicultural Youth

Michael Saxon Youth Referral and Independent Person Program Centre for Multicultural Youth My name is Michael Saxon and I have been volunteering for more than 10 years, particularly supporting ‘at-risk’ young people. For the past 5 years I have been a Volunteer Independent Person with the Youth Referral & Independent Person Program (YRIPP) run by the Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY).

In this role I support young people aged 10-17 who are in Victoria Police custody and aren’t able to have a parent or guardian there with them. We ensure the young person’s welfare needs are met, and that they understand and can exercise their rights, such as speaking with a lawyer.

Independent Persons are also present during Police interviews, fingerprinting and after-hours bail hearings to support young people through those processes. We also talk with young people about the opportunity to engage with a range of support services to help them achieve their goals and divert them from potential future offending. Victoria is one of only two places in the world that uses a pool of trained/accredited volunteers to provide young people with this kind of support when in Police custody.

‘Giving back’ is a strong value of mine. We each have knowledge/experience/stories that are of value and it is incumbent on each of us to share this freely with others.

When working in senior leadership in the corporate world I soon became connected to mentoring young people who were connected to the Child Protection or Youth Justice systems. Interacting with, supporting and just being a reliable connection for young people in difficult situations gave me great perspective/balance on life in the corporate world. It helped keep things in context and avoid being overwhelmed by situations that were otherwise not really that important (such as failing to use the updated template for a board presentation).

Over the years I observed one of the common factors among young people at risk/in need is that they have experienced a period of time where they lacked a consistent adult support figure. That is to say, in times of crisis/need they had no-one who could be relied upon to help them. This is what drew me to the Independent Person Program at YRIPP/CMY. Often Police request an Independent Person to provide support for a young person because they may not have that consistent adult support figure in their lives.

CONNECT www.yripp.org.au www.facebook.com/likeCMY 03 9340 3743 volunteer@yripp.org.au

Whilst the situations and subject matter I’m exposed to as an Independent Person can be challenging, I feel constantly rewarded for volunteering in this way. The best moments come when a young person realises themselves that they are worth being supported – even if it’s at 3am by a volunteer who got out of bed for it – and that they do have value; that they can have a productive and fulfilling life in spite of what may have happened in the past. When a young person has that ‘ah ha’ moment and is willing to put their hand up for support, no matter how many times in the past they may have said no, that is why I volunteer. I say often to young people that we can’t change our past, those things will always be part of our story. But we each have the ability to decide what we want our story to be, now and into the future. Even if it takes many conversations before a young person appreciates that they hold the keys to making changes for the better, being able to be present when they eventually come to that realisation – and the overwhelming majority do – is worth more than any monetary reward.

My advice for people considering getting involved in volunteering is just do it. I feel that there is a way that everyone can give back to their community in a meaningful way. It can be volunteering for a few hours each week, or half a day each month. It can be sharing your own knowledge and skills with others, or even learning new skills alongside others. All facets of our community benefit from and indeed rely upon the support of volunteers. And the reward for giving back, for connecting with our community, is immense. Financial contributions have a role to play in maintaining the framework of our community services organisations but the real value comes from those who are willing to volunteer their time. If we all ‘made time’ to give back rather than saying we would get to it when we ‘found time’; if we viewed volunteering as something that benefited our working lives rather than detracting from them, we could begin to see a return of authentic community connection that has been sadly diminishing in recent years. On a final note, volunteering can, and should be, something you’re comfortable doing. For some that might be helping the local footy club canteen, for others it may be supporting young people in Police custody. And if it’s the latter, YRIPP are always keen to hear from potential volunteers! Get in touch!

Jude van Daalen Portrait Photographer for the Volunteering Photo Exhibition Jude is a portrait photographer working from her studio in Altona. She has over 15 years’ experience telling stories through photography, translating those experiences into gallery-style artwork.

She recently co-authored a coffeetable book featuring her photography, Together Apart; Life in Lockdown and has established an art brand, Van Jude. She originates from Utrecht in the Netherlands, where she also had a thriving photography studio.

Jude van Daalen The Melbourne Portrait Studio 0457 043 007 Studio - 23 Burt Street, Altona themelbourneportraitstudio.com vanjude.com www.lockdownstories.com.au

Thank you to all the volunteers and volunteering groups involved in this project.

Thank you to all the estimated 13,000 volunteers across Hobsons Bay who make our community vibrant and a beautiful place.

HAPPY NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK 2021