Motions

National Volunteer Week

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (16:23): I move:

That this council—

1. Acknowledges National Volunteer Week from 18 to 24 May 2020;

2. Recognises the generous contribution of volunteers throughout South Australia;

3. Appreciates the work of volunteers in supporting their communities during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; and

4. Recognises that many in-person events that are usually held during National Volunteer Week will be cancelled owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and that it remains important to acknowledge volunteers via alternative formats.

In moving this motion, it is important to acknowledge that now more than ever we recognise the work of our volunteers, even if we cannot celebrate volunteers with planned events at this time.

Sadly, many events that are usually held during this week will this year be postponed or cancelled, yet we can look for other ways to acknowledge volunteers through social media and other formats. This year has been a year like no other and for many volunteers who have contributed to our community as we have faced massive challenges, from devastating bushfires to a health pandemic, it is timely that our chamber pauses to acknowledge those who continue to devote their time to their community.

Local volunteers are the people who step in and step up in times of crisis, natural disasters, economic stresses and political turmoil. This could not be more visible than in the past few months as we have faced the challenges and upheaval of a disastrous fire danger season and the current COVID-19 pandemic. I make special mention of the CFS volunteer firefighters. Your tireless work throughout the bushfire season will never be forgotten by our community. For the homes and livelihoods you saved, the animals and livestock that were kept safe from harm and the towns that endured, we are all grateful.

Volunteer firefighting has a long and proud history in Australia. We acknowledge that the volunteer effort is a significant part of our natural disaster response. Our firefighting model would not be possible to implement and maintain if it were not for the many thousands of people on call every day who respond to emergency situations. The CFS dedicated 1,300 volunteer firefighters and incident management personnel to assist crews in Queensland and New South Wales when fires started burning as early as September last year.

Then came our recent bushfire season, which has also been one of our worst, with 200,000 hectares of land burnt. The fire danger season started early, in last October and November, with fires in Port Lincoln and Yorketown. These events were sadly followed by the bushfires that tore through Cudlee Creek and Kangaroo Island in December and January. People are willing to give up so much of their own time, and in some instances put their own safety on the line, to protect their communities and communities across Australia.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteer crews have continued to attend structure fires, hazard incidents and road crashes. Their work continues. The fire danger season had not yet ended when our community had to turn its attention to the sweeping COVID-19 pandemic. This has been a challenging time for so many, not least for the many volunteers who have not been able to do the type of work that they normally would.

However, the workload has surged for many not-for-profit and service organisations, and South Australians have answered the call. Volunteers have adapted to providing a service in a COVID-19 safe manner and have undertaken a range of tasks, such as transportation, data entry, delivering food and supplies, conducting wellbeing checks and assisting with call centre support.

Throughout this time, I have also been struck by the generosity of so many people who have taken it upon themselves to check in on vulnerable people in their neighbourhood. It was heartwarming to see the personal cards dropped into letterboxes, with offers of help for tasks such as grocery runs and posting mail, or an offer of a friendly chat with fellow neighbours.

Over the past few weeks, I have called thousands of people across the state to check in and see how they are going. Many people who are elderly, vulnerable or who have been required to self-isolate are deeply appreciative of the kindness of strangers during this time. I have heard stories of neighbours who have rallied together to ensure that groceries are dropped off, arranged for medicines to be delivered and mail to be collected.

I have heard heartwarming stories of neighbours who have checked in on other residents, chatting over the back fence at the same time each morning to keep up a regular routine and to keep another person company during this challenging time. I have heard stories of people whose loved ones are interstate and have little or no support. This is where people within their neighbourhoods, people they may not have met or have only met briefly, have become invaluable and have provided support when they need it most. I wish to acknowledge the way that many volunteers have quickly adapted during this time and have undertaken different tasks to help others.

As our community makes cautious steps towards recovery I know that volunteers will play a very special role in this recovery effort. Our state has been through some very tough times in the past six months. For the many volunteers who have helped others, even when they themselves have faced their own challenges, you are a testament to the strong community spirit that runs through this state.

As a parliament we can, of course, strengthen the contribution of volunteerism by implementing structures to support and nurture our volunteers in a COVID-19 safe sphere. We must also wherever possible formally appreciate the values of volunteers' contributions to our communities. To every volunteer, your work is transformative. Thank you for your hours of hard work, your time and your effort, your compassion and your belief in improving the wellbeing in our community.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. D.G.E. Hood.