Noosa Council shone a light on the contribution of Noosa volunteers last Friday and thanked them for the work they do across the shire’s 300 community organisations.
Councillors, led by Deputy Mayor Frank Wilkie, joined the band on stage to sing ’Always look on the bright side of life’ while volunteers enjoyed a free breakfast, coffee, massages and the offer of a ride with Noosa outriggers.
The event celebrated International Volunteers Day and brought together a group of locals who donate their time to a variety of causes.
Grahame Wallis joined the SES Cooroy group about five years ago to help the community, particularly in times of emergency and need.
“I like the camaraderie and it gives me something to do,“ he said.
SES local controller Warren Kushoph joined SES three years ago because he “wanted to help“.
He said this year SES members had been kept busy helping with airport security during the COVID-restrictions and searching for people who become lost which he said was core part of their work though not widely known.
Juli Roberts volunteers for a variety of organisations in Noosa including Red Cross emergency services, Tourism Noosa and Christian Outreach Centre food outlet.
“I like to help people. It makes me happy,“ she said. “I know people who say they’re bored. I tell them to help someone else. When you help someone it gives you joy.“
Sandra Lilley volunteers for Noosa Parks Association because of her love of nature and the environment.
“I want to keep Noosa natural,“ she said.
Eileen Walder volunteers for both the Queensland Koala Crusaders and Noosa Arts Theatre.
“We’re all on this earth for a purpose – to make things better,“ she said. “I’m very concerned for koalas survival. I’ve seen so many lost in the 40 years we’ve been here.“
The Arts have always been a big part of Eileen’s life and with COVID-19 restrictions scaled back she hopes the theatre will soon be able to present their long-awaited production of Mama Mia.
The sea has been a way of life for Noosa Coast Guard senior skipper Wayne Douglas since he was a child who learnt to drive boats from his uncle, a professional fisherman on the Gold Coast.
He now trains other people to drive boats and works with the Coast Guard to assist people in trouble, particularly those going over the Noosa Bar, that he describes as the worst on the east coast since it was permanently altered by the reclaiming of land at the river mouth.
“It’s not always been like that. The Noosa River used to go out half way along Hastings Street,“ he said.
One of Wayne’s most memorable rescues and one that earned him a commendation from the Royal Australian Navy was the rescue of 23 people in 6m waves on Laguna Bay.
Wayne said the rescue occurred when the Young Endeavour tall ship was anchored in the bay. A group of youths left the ship in a semi-inflatable heading to Hastings Street but ended up heading for the rocks. The Coast Guard was able to retrieve all the young people and return them safely to their vessel, he said.
