Thank a Volunteer Day WA: Narrogin Rotarians share why they do it and how you can show appreciation

Along with many regional towns around the State where volunteers make a vital contribution, Narrogin Rotary Club marked Thank a Volunteer Day WA on December 5. From emergency services to community groups, volunteers donate thousands of hours each year working behind the scenes to support events, social initiatives and people in need. Many, like Rotarians Brian Lange, Mark Walling and Mike Beckwith, will do so thanklessly. “There’s a lot of people who volunteer that don’t look for a pat on the back for it,” Mr Beckwith said. “They like the idea that they get a warm-fuzzy feeling without people knowing.” This year has been a big one for the 75-year-old club, which recently lent a hand at the Perth Symphony Orchestra Narrogin Hay Bales Concert in November. Mr Walling was also the “lynchpin” of the Flaming BBQ Festival in September, Mr Lange said, with the inaugural event to return in 2024 thanks to volunteers from multiple groups including Rotary and Revheads. The student exchange program is one of many projects funded by Rotary with placements running from a term to a year depending on the number of host families interested. The club hopes to get the community’s support to resurrect the program, which was unfortunately disrupted by the pandemic. “We select someone from our communities to go to an overseas destination and someone from an overseas destination comes to live here for a year and they need to be hosted by local families,” Mr Lange said. “If we had people willing to host a 16-year-old usually we’d be very keen to talk to them about it.” The three Rotarians said volunteering was essential to the community and they got as much out of doing it as they gave. “It’s about giving something back,” Mr Walling said. “It’s something you do when you’ve got the opportunity — if you don’t have volunteers it doesn’t get done.” “The other side of it is the enjoyment of participation, mixing with people who are like-minded,” Mr Lange said. “Meeting fortnightly with people who have a common view is satisfying in itself.” “Come and help, even if it’s just a bit,” Mr Walling said. Families interested in hosting an exchange student or learning more about the Rotary Club can contact narroginrotary@gmail.com