Inspiring Volunteer Stories in Ballarat
13 July 2012
Despite a wet night, 65 guests attended the first Volunteer Stories event, a night of storytelling at the Ballarat Town Hall on 10 July. Three returned Australian volunteers and Ballarat community members enthralled the audience with the triumphs and tribulations of their overseas adventures working in community development.
Kerry Gibson shared her volunteer experiences in Swaziland’s Manzini Youth Care, Rosey King talked about midwifery issues at the Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia, and Pauline McKenzie highlighted her ongoing relationship with Papua New Guinea and its people since volunteering as a nurse in 1969.
The Mayor of Ballarat, Cr Mark Harris, officially welcomed guests to the City of Ballarat hosted event and spoke passionately about how enriching volunteer work is, with a particular focus on the volunteering efforts of the people of Ballarat.
“More than 50 Ballarat people have volunteered with Australian Volunteers International. They have given their time as part of the Australia Government and AusAID’s commitment to international volunteering,” the Mayor said.
“The first of these people from Ballarat was a librarian who went to Indonesia in 1955. Those who have followed since have given their time, energy, and talent to a range of services across the globe.”
The City of Ballarat maintains a broader involvement with volunteering through their ongoing friendship with Ainaro, Timor-Leste. Their community committee, Friends of Ainaro, supports a number of Australian volunteers and projects in Timor-Leste.
AusAID is working in partnership with Australian Volunteers International, Australian Red Cross and Austraining International to deliver the Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID) program.
AVID is an Australian Government, AusAID initiative that sends skilled Australians to live and work in developing countries as part of Australia’s overseas aid program.
Read more about Volunteer Stories
Read more about AVID
Photo> Mayor of Ballarat, Cr Mark Harris.