21 May 2025

It is National Volunteer Week 2025 – a great time to celebrate everything volunteers do for our community!

Gunnedah Shire is home to people who are more likely to put their hands up for volunteering than your average New South Wales Shire – 17.1% of the population compared to 15.5% statewide.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Colleen Fuller said volunteers enriched our lifestyle in Gunnedah Shire.

“We have selfless and passionate people who volunteer in sporting organisations, cultural organisations and community organisations,” Cr Fuller said. “And there are people who volunteer to help in vital roles that keep us safe and healthy.

“Volunteers contribute so much to our every-day lives by generously sharing their knowledge and skills, and we thank them.”

Volunteers help at GoCo Community Care in many ways, including driving seniors to appointments, offering friendly chats and helping at events.

GoCo Executive Manager Bruce Mercer said volunteers made a difference to the lives of many clients.

“Our volunteers are the heartbeat of everything we do,” Mr Mercer said. “We thank every one of our volunteers for the huge range of things they do.

“We know the satisfaction they get from helping others plays a role in their lives too. And there is always room for more volunteers!”

Gunnedah Shire Library also benefits from the work of volunteers who help bring the benefits of reading, studying and social gatherings to our Shire.

Librarian Christiane Birkett said volunteers made the Library an even better place to be by assisting in a huge range of tasks – including being part of this week’s National Simultaneous Storytime on Wednesday!

Volunteers also play a vital role on our working groups and committees, including on Village Progress Associations and Hall Committees.

If you would like to make a difference at GoCo, you can fill in a Volunteer Application Form available on GoCo’s website at https://gococare.com.au/ If you would like to volunteer at Gunnedah Shire Library, please talk to Library staff or email council@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au

National Volunteer Week 2025 runs from Monday, 19 May to Sunday, 25 May.

Captions:

Library volunteer Di Doohan reads to children at National Simultaneous Storytime 2025 this week.

ENDS

Media and communications team contact: (02) 6740 2100 or communications@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au