A message from the Mayor - Thanking our volunteers
Published on 18 January 2016
Most people who have been lucky enough to have had a break over the Christmas period will no doubt be back at work by now and I want to take some time to acknowledge those in our community who don’t get the opportunity to take time off during peak holiday periods.
For many people, summer is the time to wind down, take a break and reenergise for the New Year. But for many of our local volunteers, this is one of their busiest times of the year.
On behalf of the wider community I want to thank all our great volunteers who worked hard to make our region a fabulous place for those visiting, for those having a break from work and also for those who were and still are doing it tough.
At almost every event I attended over the Christmas / New Year Period, I saw local people helping out. From the many Carols by Candlelight gatherings held around our region, to the New Year’s Eve celebrations and even the sporting events such as Willowfest, the Speedway Championships and the solo and side-car racing – each and every one of these events would not have been possible without the support of volunteers.
And of course it goes even further than that, especially when you consider those who hosted a free Christmas lunch, organised presents or held a fundraiser to support people who are struggling with ill health. All these volunteers have made a difference to our community and we thank you.
I also want to acknowledge our emergency services volunteers in the SES, CFA, Red Cross, Victorian Lifesavers and many other support groups who helped to keep our region safe over the major holiday period. Volunteers are often called upon to miss out on Christmas lunch, to miss out on New Year’s Eve celebrations and to forgo the family summer holiday, while they assist our residents and visitors.
In the coming weeks we will again take the opportunity to thank some individuals and groups in our region for their tireless work, when we announce our Australia Day Award recipients, but in the meantime, please know that each and every one of you are appreciated and we certainly couldn’t manage without you.
If you are looking for a new challenge for 2016 and haven’t tried volunteering, why not give it a go? Many of our local groups would welcome more help and new faces to their organisations.
Once again, thank you to everyone who kept our great region ticking along while others took a break.