Volunteers – where would we be without them?
It’s a fact that many support services in New Zealand society rely on volunteers, and Golden Bay is no exception. Literally hundreds of Bay residents are either actively involved or have their names down to provide vital help in our community. Forget the glory—for them it’s all about service.
St John. In February, St John in the Bay advertised for two volunteers to fill the positions of secretary and treasurer, the latter needing a basic understanding of the accounting program MYOB. The area committee filled these, but Sue Netto, team manager operations, says they’re now about to undertake a big recruitment drive to find people to work on the ambulance, which has to be double crewed 24/7.
“We currently have 15 operational staff but still find ourselves desperately short because we like to maintain a presence at everything from rugby matches to boat races. We offer full training. The end result is a diploma that can take a couple of years to get.”
Victim Support. The NZ Council of Victim Support Groups was set up in 1990. Last year they helped 130,000 people affected by crime throughout the country. In Golden Bay, they have four volunteer support workers plus a local co-ordinator. Two weeks ago the service placed an advertisement in The GB Weekly advertising for more people to train, which prompted three enquiries of interest. District service co-ordinator Sue Tilby of Motueka says they would welcome more.
“Two weekends of training are required, the next being later in May at the Nelson Police Station. Basically we want people who are resourceful, patient and compassionate—skills to help those who’ve suffered setbacks to regain control of their lives. They can be from any walks of life as long as they have time to give. The reason we pictured the present volunteers in that advertisement was to show that they are ‘real’ people in our community. This is far from a faceless service.”
Volunteer Fire Brigades. Phillip Woolf of the Takaka Volunteer Fire Brigade says their numbers are determined by the NZ Fire Service, currently set at 20 operational and two non-operation/support crew. “At the moment we are ‘fully established’ with 19 men and three women. But if anyone is keen they can register their interest. Members are expected to be available 24 hours per day/7 days a week, 365 days a year, not to mention 2.5hrs a week training every Tuesday. We average 70 to 80 call-outs a year, including structure fires, motor vehicle crashes, special service (such as horse rescues) and flood protection. We’re the first callout on Civil Defence issues and have a real focus on fire education, not only in schools, but smoke alarm installation and open days.”
Collingwood Volunteer Fire Brigade’s Graeme Miller says that they could do with another three volunteers. “They’d have to do two weekends of pre-course before they can ride in the engine, and after that they’d be expected to do an evening per week training with the rest of us.”
Search and Rescue. Ricky Ward is the regional training organiser for Search and Rescue (Land). At the moment in Golden Bay they have 28 volunteers ready and waiting for the Police-initiated callouts, which happens on average around three or four times a year.
“We’re always looking for new members,” says Ricky. “You don’t necessarily have to have heaps of outdoor experience, just plenty of keenness.” Members train locally every second Wednesday of the month, counting in their radio checkpoint duties at race events like Gibbs Hill Challenge and Kahurangi Endurance. Formal training is given in search methods and first aid. Although their search territory is typically from the Top of the Hill across to Kahurangi, they can be called out anywhere across the Top of the South if extra personnel are needed.
The Search and Rescue (Maritime) co-ordinator is Tarakohe’s harbourmaster, Allan Kilgour. “Currently we’re pretty set up, with a whole lot of commercial boats we can call on, private skippers who are only too willing to help, plus our boat club personnel to co-ordinate radio contact on shore. For our bigger searches we have mobilised 14 boats. Our area goes from Kahurangi Point around to Stephens Island. The Coast Guard came over recently to see if they needed to set up a base, but decided we were pretty set up, basically thanks to all the volunteers over here.”
Gerard Hindmarsh
