Social photos: National Volunteer Week 2025
See who has been seen out and about in the Murraylands this week, thanks to Spry Holdings.
At the Murray Bridge council's National Volunteer Week event are Margaret England, Annette Slade and Shirley Wright with Enid Smith and Kathy Franklin; Helen Kuchel, Kaitlyn Tsaousoglou and Lyn Thacker; Angela McHugh, Thelm White and Jo Hancock; Bob Hancock and Graham Keller; Helen Bowring and Jill Matschoss; Dot Temby, Debbie Burton and Helen Wissink; Ken and Chris Melville and Thomas Sitholle; Neville Brown, Roger Waldhuter, Robert Allen, Stephen Coad and Bob Eisen; and Mardy Purchase and Darren Brown. Photos: Peri Strathearn.
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Volunteers have rendered an incredible 18,670 hours of service to the Murray Bridge council over the past 10 months.
Between them, among other feats, they have:
- removed graffiti from 58 sites
- taken 90 ladies on social outings
- witnessed 429 documents
- greeted 451 Round House visitors
- transported passengers a total of 14,091 kilometres
Together, the council’s 222 volunteers had saved ratepayers more than $920,000 so far this year, said council CEO Heather Barclay at a National Volunteer Week function at the Captain’s Cottage Museum on Friday.
“Your skills, your knowledge, your experience, your friendship, your vision, your leadership and your inspiration and care for this community is unbelievable,” she said.
“These are the gifts you share with our community, but above all you give your time … the most valuable resource you have.”
She expressed her heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the community.
- Purchase a high-resolution photo: $5 at murraybridgenews.square.site.
Volunteers across Barker recognised
Meanwhile, a couple of days earlier, federal MP Tony Pasin held a thank-you function for volunteers at Murray Bridge RSL.
Mr Pasin recognised 125 volunteers with his Barker Volunteer Awards this year, including:
- Former Callington Agricultural and Horticultural Society chairman Clive Wundersitz
- St John’s Op Shop volunteers Stephan Harrison, Debbie Rew, Lee Clews, Ann French and Marlene Farelle-Neideck
- Bowhill Progress Association’s Shane McGrath
- Ski for Life committee members
“Volunteers really are the heart of communities … and they deserve recognition for the time and skills they donate to help make our local communities the great places they continue to be,” Mr Pasin said.
“From the local footy or netball club, service club or CFS, a thriving volunteer ecosystem is crucial in regional communities for the provision of services, events, support and for building a thriving sense of community.”
