Volunteering is rewarding and fulfilling, just ask two long-time Devonport volunteers Sue Jordan and Lyn Johnson who have more than 60 years volunteering between them.
Devonport Mayor Annette Rockliff paid homage to the volunteering dynamos, who will join fellow local volunteers at a free community breakfast hosted by the Devonport City Council on Monday, 6 December.
Cr Rockliff encouraged more Devonport volunteers to come along for a free breakfast, which will be hosted, and cooked, by Councillors and management staff at Providore Place, Market Square from 7am.
“We know how important volunteers are to any community and being able to show our appreciation in some small way is the least we can do,” Cr Rockliff said.
“Council has been hosting the community breakfast since around 2016 and we usually get about 50-60 attendees. Thanks to City Mission for providing their mobile food van so we can help cook up a feast.
“It’s a great chance for us to connect with volunteers from all pockets of the community and share stories about why they volunteer their time and the difference that they make.”
For Mrs Johnson and Mrs Jordan, their volunteering journey began when their children started school.
Being part of the parents and friends’ association led both mothers into more volunteering roles through sport and community organisations, including Soroptimist International.
“Volunteering has always been such a rewarding experience, especially through my involvement with organisations like Hospice and Community Care. You are able to support families in their times of need,” Mrs Jordan said.
“I feel that when you’re part of a community, it’s really important to give something back, and it’s also great to be out and about with people.”
Mrs Johnson agreed, saying her time as President of the Tasmanian Amputee Society and Soroptimist for 20 years had been a highlight, particularly in supporting amputees and their families.
“When you volunteer it really is amazing the different people that come into your life that you may not have otherwise met,” Mrs Johnson said.
“Volunteering may seem like a lot of effort and work to some, but you really do get back more than you give.”
Cr Rockliff said the event was traditionally held at the Bluff, but due to bad weather in 2019 it was moved to the East Devonport Recreation Centre, which is now a COVID clinic.
She said with the breakfast being cancelled last year, Market Square was determined to be a suitable location for this year’s breakfast in case of inclement weather.
“According to Volunteer Tasmania’s statistics in 2019, Devonport had an estimated 8,200 volunteers,” Cr Rockliff said.
“We value our volunteers, and we want to show them how important they are to our community. We encourage you to come along to Market Square and join in the celebration to recognise how special our volunteers are to Devonport.”
