Jennifer Pittorino
Ahead of National Volunteer Week, Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay councils are encouraging volunteers to give back to their community.
National Volunteer Week is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering. This year it will be held from May 15-21.
On Tuesday, May 9, Hobsons Bay council encouraged residents to attend its Volunteer Expo on Saturday, May 20, between 11am-2pm.
The free expo will be held at the Hobsons Bay Civic Centre to commemorate National Volunteer Week. This year’s theme is ‘The Change Makers’.
Hobsons Bay mayor Tony Briffa said local groups and organisations are a crucial part of the fabric of the community.
“Many of them would not exist without volunteers giving their valuable time, effort and skills, we want to help these groups attract great people by giving them a chance to showcase what their organisation is all about to the wider community,” she said.
There will be entertainment in the form of music and well being activities, plus food and refreshments, there will also be people on hand to help people find local volunteering opportunities.
The Volunteer Expo will bring together more than 30 local organisations, clubs and community group, from a wide range of areas and interests across the municipality.
Maribyrnong council have been seen planting trees in their community with volunteers.
On Tuesday, May 9, Friends of Maribyrnong Valley and NAB participated in a community planting day at Burndap Park in Maribyrnong, planting 800 plants in one and a half hours.
During volunteer week Maribyrnong council is joining local organisations AMCS and Volunteer West in hosting a workshop for individuals and organisations who manage volunteers in and around the City of Maribyrnong.
The workshop aims to re-engage volunteers and drive change through deepening relationships with volunteers and volunteer organisations by identifying the challenges facing volunteering in Maribyrnong.
