National Volunteer Week
This week is National Volunteer Week (15 - 21 May) - a time to acknowledge and celebrate the many volunteers who are making a powerful impact on the sport and active recreation sector.
Volunteers are vital to the success of sport across our country, and we'd like to thank the 3 million people who volunteer their time to sport in Australia. A huge shout-out to the many community sports volunteers who will be at fields, courts and grounds over this weekend - we wouldn't be able to play without you!
We've spoken to volunteers from the Mornington Peninsula Badmintion Club, Burwood Cricket Club and 13th Beach Boardriders Club - who have received a 2022-23 Change Our Game Community Activation Grant. The volunteers at these clubs are changing the game for women and girls, and we'd like to take this opportunity to say a huge THANK YOU! Read more about these volunteers below.
Volunteering at Mornington Peninsula Badminton Club
Our volunteers set up and are ready to greet the ladies on arrival for our Feathered Friends Program. These volunteers are extra special as they are the Mentors for the participants, some whom have never played badminton before or walk in knowing no-one. They ensure everyone feels welcome and valued, enabling every player to play with each other regardless of ability or skill. Our volunteers will join the ladies for social games, educating and encouraging as they play. A break for a cuppa and a chat round out the morning for all. A lot of fun thanks to our wonderful volunteers/mentors, Lesley and Marnie.
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A busy night for our volunteers; Social, Competition and All Abilities all run together. Setting up, welcoming players, taking payments, organising o, encouraging player rotations and socialising, educating on rules and regulations, umpiring, packing up, as well as playing too! This group of volunteers are the Dream Team!
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Volunteering at Burwood Cricket Club
Ellie Campbell: Ellie is a Committee Member who is the Chair of our Communications Sub Committee. She has completely re-designed our website, helped keep members connected during Covid and runs our social media platforms. She was also the 2022 Cricket Victoria Young Leader of the Year and the 2022 Boroondara Young Leader of the Year. She was injured during the past season but was our Senior Women’s Captain prior to her injury. Ellie is a young woman who inspires others both on and off the field.
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Heidi & Carol Pearce: This mother and daughter combo are the dynamic duo. Heidi is a highly talented cricketer and a Co-Captain of our Senior Women’s team. She also volunteers coaching one of our junior girls teams and is regularly around our Club helping anyway she can. Her mum, Carol is our Club Secretary. Carol has been instrumental in our Club being awarded the Cricket Victoria Best Administered Club award 3 out of the past 4 years. She is also the Team Manager of our Senior Women’s team and regularly scores for our Senior Men’s teams. The contribution of these two strong and wonderful women makes our Club a special place.
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Our Senior Women’s team, to recognise International Women’s Day this year, before the game had this photo taken. They wanted to illustrate to the cricketing community that all areas, included sport need to have programs in place to embrace equity. Each member proudly held up a sign - each choosing their own message.
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Kate Bellamy: The first female President in the Club’s 150 year history. Kate brings to the club the premise that every person, no matter who they are, their age or ability, should be able to find a cricketing program for them, where they face no stigma, stereotypes or biases. Her passion is inclusion and diversity and she is very proud to lead a sporting Club where it’s members share this vision.
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Volunteering at 13th Beach Boardriders
Shasta O'Loughlin, Women's Contest Director Shasta lead the recreation of Chix Surf 13th, (the female arm of 13th Beach Boardriders) four years ago, providing a welcoming, safe, inclusive environment for female surfers to meet up at local competitive and social events. She has increased adult female membership from three to over fifty, by offering a diverse range of options - Competition, Training & Development, social surfing, and coffee catch-ups. She recently applied and received funding from Change Our Game to train more female surf judges to help support the growth of interest in this skill.
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Rachel Feldman, President Rachel has been a volunteer of 13th Beach Boardriders for several years and last year become the first female President of the club. Her leadership style is fair, inclusive, and inspiring. Rachel continues to lobby for a clubhouse for the club (years of work) and does not take no for an answer. She is determined both in and out of the water. A true local leader, providing a community club to our community.
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Friday 19 May, 2023
