Volunteering is one of the many ways our team contributes to our local communities. As many outback organisations, we're proud of where we call home and want the best for our locals. We're also proud of our staff who choose to volunteer across a wide range of sectors to help our towns thrive.
Here's how ten of our team members (including two of our Partners), Danielle, Deb, Michael, Jason, Kelli, Willie, Mark, Sara, Stu, and PJ choose to help their communities.
Some of our community volunteers based in Barcaldine (left) and Emerald (right).
Danielle Reid, Technical Officer
Community Group | Emerald Pottery Club |
What is your role in the organisation? | Grants Officer |
How many years have you helped this group? | I have been with the group for almost 2 years but dealing with grant applications for about 6 months now, to raise money for the club. |
What does this group do for your community? | We provide a fully equipped studio space for the community to practice pottery (located behind the Emerald Library), the equipment we provide includes pottery wheels and a kiln. We hold weekly members sessions on Wednesday nights from 5pm and we organise subsidised workshops several times a year for club members and the public to come along and learn new pottery skills. The club members are very friendly and supportive, and it is a good way to meet people and have some time to be creative. |
Deb Fenton, Technical Officer
Community Group | Disaster Relief Australia (formerly Team Rubicon Australia) |
What is your role in the organisation? | Volunteer/Strike Team Leader/Mission Commander |
How many years have you helped this group? | 3 years |
What does this group do for your community? | Disaster Relief Australia provides disaster response to those affected by natural disasters, be they domestic or international. By pairing the skills and experiences of military veterans with emergency responders, medical professions, and technology solutions, Disaster Relief Australia aims to provide the greatest service and impact possible. |
Deb's emergency medal for being involved with the floods during Cyclone Debbie and some cupcakes prepared for the Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser.
Michael Williams, Principal Cultural Heritage Officer
Community Group | Central West Aboriginal Corp, Junior Basketball Rotary Barcaldine Barcaldine Cricket Association |
What is your role in the organisation? | Basketball - Coach and Program Manager Rotary - Member Cricket - Secretary |
How many years have you helped this group? | Basketball - 5 years Rotary - 6 months Cricket - 3 months |
What does this group do for your community? | Central West Aboriginal Corporation, Junior Basketball - Trains basketball and teamwork skills to kids ages 8-17, while arranging intertown sports events. Rotary Barcaldine - Provide drought relief programs, volunteers at local events, raises funds for equipment in schools and around the community, running a Christmas Party event this year Barcaldine Cricket Association: Trains cricket and teamwork skills to all ages, while arranging intertown sports events. |
Jason Burger, Principal Building Surveyor & Senior Associate
Community Group | Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) |
What is your role in the organisation? | Emergency Driver |
How many years have you helped this group? | Approximately 9 years |
What does this group do for your community? | The QAS provides ambulance response services including pre-hospital patient care and related services across Queensland. |
QAS Ambulance image captured by Calum Smith, Barcaldine
Kelli Egerton, Finance Officer
Community Group | Barcaldine Prep-12 State School P & C Association |
What is your role in the organisation? | Treasurer |
How many years have you helped this group? | I have been part of it for four years but treasurer for three years |
What does this group do for your community? | The P&C is twofold in its fundraising. They raise much needed funds for things like sports, field trips, desks, curtains, musical equipment, shade cover, bike racks, etc. Each year, a State School is allocated a limited maintenance budget to maintain all the buildings and its contents. The school must pick and choose what gets updated, replaced or fixed. The P&C raises funds to fill the gaps where it can. This year, we have put money towards getting a well renowned artist to give specialty art courses to the students as a new experience. We have put in a purchase to replace all the desks in the primary school and we have put funds towards the different grade level excursions. We also work to get grants that we divide up among the students to reduce the burden of school expenses. The second part of the P&C’s fundraising that I have found particularly interesting since moving out to a small town community is to fill a gap in service where there isn’t one. If it means one of the school carnivals or the senior formal can’t get a caterer in town to run/provide for their events then the P&C is there to back them up and make sure the event goes ahead as a success. Each organisation in this community finds a way to help each other out so each event can move forward and continue to happen. “Many hands make light work” is a very truthful statement when it comes to volunteering. It would be great to see more hands involved in the community. |
Mark Tennent, Senior Surveyor
Willie Wilbers, Designer
Community Group | Barcaldine SES |
What is your role in the organisation? | Mark: Group Leader Willie: Volunteer |
How many years have you helped this group? | Mark: 3 years Willie: 6 months |
What does this group do for your community? | The State Emergency Services (SES) is a volunteer emergency and rescue organisation dedicated to helping communities prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters, including: severe storms, floods, earthquakes. SES volunteers also conduct, search and rescue operations, crime scene/forensics searches, provide community preparedness and safety education, and support other emergency service agencies. |
Sara Milligan, Senior Finance Officer
Community Group | Barcaldine Senior Rugby League |
What is your role in the organisation? | Treasurer |
How many years have you helped this group? | 5 years |
What does this group do for your community? | Our club does many things for the community but the biggest contribution we make is hosting events where we fundraise for various community groups. Each year, we host an annual Ladies Day where we auction off the players jerseys (generally a pink design) and the funds raised from this has allowed us to support the likes of Barcaldine Aged Care, Jenny Lockie Community Assistance Association, Breast and Prostate Cancer Association, Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and Outback Futures to name a few. |
Stu Bourne, Partner
Community Group | Barcaldine Clay Target Club |
What is your role in the organisation? | Treasurer |
How many years have you helped this group? | Over 5 years |
What does this group do for your community? | Provide a facility for local and regional competitors to grow and develop their sport |
Aerial shot of Clay Target Club captured by Matthew Newton
PJ Cullivan, Partner
Community Group | Emerald Scouts Group |
What is your role in the organisation? | Treasurer and Committee Member |
How many years have you helped this group? | 3 years |
What does this group do for your community? | Scouts Australia provides fun youth development activities, building resilient and confident boys and girls. Scouts has opportunities for the whole family to be involved. Everyone is welcome, and we value the diversity of our members. |
To Danielle, Deb, Michael, Jason, Kelli, Willie, Mark, Sara, Stu, PJ and the many other community volunteers, we thank you for making our towns a better place.
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