Volunteers from a range of organisations and community groups recently attended an event hosted by the Narromine Shire Council to thank them for their contributions to the community.

Mayor Ewen Jones joined councillors Brian Leak, Judy Smith and Les Lambert at the event held outdoors at the renovated Narromine Tennis Club on Friday, August 7.

“This gathering is about recognising people who give something that cannot be replaced: your time, your skills, your compassion, and your commitment to others,” mayor Jones said.

“Every hour you volunteer strengthens our community and enriches the lives of those around you.”

The mayor said volunteering is something that everyone could be a part of, and was often carried out quietly.

“Volunteers are the heart of our community. You bring people together, support those in need, preserve our local traditions, create opportunities for others and help build stronger, more connected communities. Many of the purposes, activities, and events we enjoy simply would not be possible,” he explained.

Several of those attending took the opportunity to offer some frank thoughts on the future of volunteering.

“When I look around, I can see that it’s the same faces, the same ones year after year after year,” commented Beryl Hartley from Narromine Gliding Club, also a member of the Narromine Aviation Museum committee.

She said things have to be made easier for people to want to volunteer.

“They have to have a sense of purpose of why they're putting something into their community, and that's always a great challenge,” she said.

Beryl said seven weeks of gliding had been booked, which will bring hundreds of people to Narromine as a result.

“Every time we bring another dollar into the town from outside this area, that's a benefit. For those that support me in doing that, thank you,” she said.

Terrie Milgate from the Trangie Truck and Tractor Show committee said that younger volunteers are often working and volunteering around family commitments.

“We've got to remember those young volunteers have got families, and so they volunteer for school things and sporting opportunities,” she said.

“With the truck show, we've got about 30 on our committee, but we had over 100 volunteers on top of that at the last show so I really can't ask for more than that,” she added.

Barriers to participation also included meeting governance requirements involving police checks, working with children checks and other qualifications – something that was not a quick, easy fix but needed to be addressed, attendees agreed.