Contact us on 08 8563 8495, email volunteering@barossa.sa.gov.au or visit us at www.barossa.sa.gov.au

Dear Reader

Welcome to our first issue!

Volunteering Barossa & Light is a

community service that matches

volunteers to positions, and provides help

and advice on all aspects of

volunteering.

We came about as a Barossa Council

initiative and are working in

partnership with Light Regional

Council in order to create a central point

for information across the two regions.

Perhaps you want to get involved in

your community but don’t know where

to start? Volunteering Barossa & Light

can help you find out about the types of

volunteering available and how to apply

(see back page for a sample of our

current vacancy list.)

For organisations looking for

volunteers, our office

can help you too by

promoting your

vacancy as well as

advising on things like

volunteer policy,

training and grant

applications.

Our Volunteer resource

centre is located in Nuriootpa Library so

do pop in and see us,

If you would like to contribute to our

next issue or have any feedback for us

we would love to hear from you.

Jo Parker Phillips Volunteer Co-ordinator

Incoming Volunteers Minister Grace Portolesi has applauded the efforts of South Australia’s 600,000 volunteers on the eve of National Volunteer Week (May 10-16).

The Labor Member for Hartley says volunteers make a tremendous contribution to the South Australian community, dedicating an estimated 1.4 million hours of volunteer work every week.

“This is a huge contribution which gives us one of the highest volunteer participation rates in the nation,” Ms Portolesi said.

“Every day volunteers are out there doing important work in areas like culture, welfare, education, environment, safety and health.”

“The hard work, skill and dedication of volunteers help make SA a better place to live and work.”

Ms Portolesi was elected to parliament in 2006, and retained the key marginal seat of Hartley in the March 2010 State election.

Married with a young family, Ms Portolesi also holds the portfolios of Youth; Multicultural Affairs; and Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation.

Recognition for our ‘helping hands’

Autumn 2010

Volunteering Barossa & Light

“We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by

what we give.” Winston Churchill

Volunteer Office opening times are Monday to Friday 9am to 12.30pm

Nuriootpa Library 43-51 Tanunda Rd

Nuriootpa, SA 5355

PS - If you need to arrange an afternoon

appointment let us know

We love this!

“Those who can, do. Those who can do more,

volunteer.”

Contact us on 08 8563 8495, email volunteering@barossa.sa.gov.au or visit us at www.barossa.sa.gov.au

Many organisations struggle to survive without the

support of volunteers. Volunteering SA&NT

(VSA&NT), as the peak body for volunteering in South

Australia and the Northern Territory, works in close

collaboration with Resource Centres such as

Volunteering Barossa & Light to build awareness of

volunteering in their community and to help enrich

the volunteering experience. VSA&NT provides

advice, valuable training for volunteers and support

through the volunteer matching service to give much

needed support to the local community, enabling

organisations to grow and flourish through

volunteering.

‘Volunteers not only make a positive difference to the

organisations they work with, but more

importantly, they make a positive difference to the

lives of the users or clients of those services’, says

Evelyn O’Loughlin, CEO of Volunteering SA & NT. ‘We

commend the partnership of The Barossa Council and

the Light Regional Council in setting up Volunteering

Barossa & Light , supported by a grant from the

Office for Volunteers. The Advisory Committee and

Co-ordinator Jo Parker Phillips (and Elaine Johnson

previously) have worked hard to establish a first-rate

centre to support volunteering in the Barossa and

Light Region. The success of what they have achieved

so far in the community is admirable and they and all

volunteers who have stepped up to help others in

need, should be justifiably proud of their work’.

Evelyn O’Loughlin - CEO of Volunteering SA&NT

Paying tribute to local

volunteers

Whether you need a police check will depend upon the organisation you are volunteering for.

Each organisation has their own policy and it will depend on the type of volunteering you are engaging in.

To work with vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly, a police check will almost certainly be required.

Don’t rush out and get a police check, as the organisation you choose to volunteer for will usually want to arrange this.

The cost of the check is usually covered by the community organisation (it is free to not-for-profit organisations.)

Does your organisation engage volunteers?

Do you need a hand?

Our entirely free service includes :

Promoting your volunteer vacancy and organisation Flyer design and printing Flyers displayed in Nuriootpa Library (open 7 days with 2,500 visitors per week) Vacancy advertised on Council’s website Vacancy added to Volunteering SA website-database Referral of prospective volunteers Assistance with volunteer policy Assistance with grant applications

What do you have to lose?

For more information contact the team!

We’d love to help!

FAQ - Do I need a police check to volunteer?

Send us your question about volunteering and we will do our best to answer it and share the knowledge.

Got a Question?

This is your space to say a public thank you to a volunteer. Send your message to volunteering@barossa.sa.gov.au

Thank You Pat Peach: for the best ‘sarnies’ in the Barossa! From Jackie Bowness & the team at Barossa Village.

Thank You Sue Roesler: for all you do at the Friendship Group, from Pam and the Leisure Options Team.

Thank You Ron Kubisch, Geoff Fahlbusch, Ross Vogt, Bev Wenke & Andrew Crawford for all your help at the

Kapunda Farm Fair, from the Transport Home Assist Team.

Contact us on 08 8563 8495, email volunteering@barossa.sa.gov.au or visit us at www.barossa.sa.gov.au

Ross Vogt - Volunteer Extraordinaire!

When we asked around about who would be a good candidate for our ‘volunteer extraordinaire’ piece, one name kept coming up: Ross Vogt. The only problem was that when we started gathering information it soon became apparent that Ross has done so much fantastic community work and has such an interesting life that we might need to write a book to fit it all in!

Ross’ desire to volunteer and make the world a better place has had a real impact in the region and in particular Kapunda where Ross has lived most of his life. For most people, running their own business would keep them busy enough, but not Ross!

Among the groups that received the benefits of his energy and commitment are: Kapunda Youth Group, Kapunda Tidy Towns Committee, Kapunda Swimming Pool and the Kapunda High School Council. He is a life member of the Kapunda Historical Society and the Country Fire Service, he was an instigator of the introduction of a BMX

bike track in Kapunda, a member of the committee for the revegetation of the Pines Nature Park and he founded the steering committee of the Map Kernow project. And this is just a few, wow!

He received the Kapunda Citizen of the year award in 1990 and a Centenary Medal in 2003.

As if life isn’t busy enough, Ross also has a vast array of interests including motor cycling, coin collecting, antiques, genealogy, entertaining, travelling, Pen-ny Farthing cycling and watching sport. He is a life member of the BMW Own-ers Club and for the past 15 years Ross has also been a member of The Baros-sa Regional Community Transport Scheme.

“We couldn’t count the number of hours he has donated or the number of kilometres that he has driven for the Scheme,” said John Peake from the Community Transport Team. “His contribution has been, and continues to be, invaluable, plus we really enjoy his company”.

So if you’re looking for a subject for a biography, Ross just might be your man! Thanks Ross!

For info on the Community Transport Scheme, call 8563 8444

Ross in his beloved 1971 MGB

When Ally Auld from Carers Link came into the Volunteering Barossa & Light office and talked to us about the Young Carers Program, we couldn’t wait to find her some helping hands. The Young Carers Program supports young people under 25, who have someone at home that they care for.

The program assists them with the difficult balance of leading their own lives along with the demands of caring for another person. It also focuses on giving them some down time from their hectic lives and gives them a chance to have some fun and forget about life’s pressures for a while.

The team placed an advert on the Volunteering Barossa & Light noticeboard looking for volunteers to help Ally and before too long it caught the attention of Isabelle Frater, 29. “It was New Year’s Eve when I saw the advert and thought I’d give Ally a ring right away,” says Issey. “Within a few weeks I was volunteering for the group!” Issey, always on the go, has a chock-full volunteering schedule.

“With the Young Carers Program I just love being able to help kids who are having a hard time, maybe making their journey a little easier,” she says.

A few weeks later Issey had spread the word and Andre Jablonski, 28, popped into the office to see us. We passed his details on to Ally and he was soon a member of her team too. Another long-time volunteer and fantastically community minded person,

Andre has found that volunteering with the young carers is wonderfully rewarding. “Just to see the smiles of the young carers is great,” he says. “I wish when I was a kid there had been something like this for me.”

Spotlight on Young Volunteers

Wednesdays with Maurie

Maurie Dow was one of the first volunteers to put his hand up to work at our volunteer resource centre based in Nuriootpa Library. He answered an ad in the paper in March 2009 and has been an energetic and creative member of the team ever since.

Now retired, Maurie has had a mind-boggling array of careers, including teaching and running his own business, and he brings this wealth of experience to the role.

As our resident grant writing expert, he has experience compiling many grant applications as well as being on grant decision making panels. A recent Volunteering SA course added to this knowledge.

Maurie volunteers with us on Wednesdays and Thursdays as well as volunteering with Barossa Council Community Transport, Barossa Autism and the Kapunda Musical Society. You have to wonder when he finds time to sleep!

For more info on the Young Carers Program please contact Ally Auld on 8562 4000.

Not a picture of Maurie!

Barossa Bushgardens are looking for volunteers to help in the gardens; perhaps you would like to ‘adopt a patch’ or work in the nursery?

Clerical positions are available in various medical records offices throughout the Bar-ossa and Light regions. Volunteer and gain experience while updating your skills.

Would you like to work with a happy team of volunteers? The Community Helpers Furniture Warehouse is looking for friendly men and wom-en to assist at Railway Terrace, Nuriootpa.

The Barossa Village is looking for friendly and reliable people who can work within a team and are able to empathise with the aged. Come and help staff with supervision of group activities.

The Tanunda Lutheran Home is looking for a volunteer to assist in the café. A great opportunity to make friends and gain hospitality experience within a supportive team.

Green thumb? There are volunteer vacancies at The South Para Biodiversity Project Nursery, situated at the South Para Reservoir, Williamstown.

Like to help people and further your skills? Uniting Care Kapunda is looking for volunteers to pack food hampers and conduct general office duties.

Would you like to learn first aid? This could be an invaluable skill in your family or work life. Fit, healthy and motivated volunteers will receive training in senior first aid.

If you have time to spare and would like to contribute to the arts community, the Barossa Regional Gallery need volunteers. Varied tasks with flexible hours.

Hands Up For Volunteering

Looking for that feel-good factor? Like to help but don’t know how?

Want a new interest? Want to meet new people?

If you have answered yes to any of the above, we can help. Volunteering Barossa & Light is a community service that matches

volunteers to volunteer positions and provides help and advice on all aspects of volunteering.

You can contact us : In person - at Nuriootpa Library

By phone - 8563 8495 By email - volunteering@barossa.sa.gov.au

Visit us in the Community Services section of The Barossa Council Website - www.barossa.sa.gov.au

Volunteer Vacancies

For more info

on any of these

positions, give

us a call

Remember… volunteering keeps you young!

Do you have good communication skills? The Angaston & Penrice Historical Society are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to assist in the Doddridge Blacksmith Shop in Angaston.