There are so many benefits to volunteering; there’s the social benefits to you, the benefit to the community of having that group or organisation available to them, and nothing quite compares to the feeling of making someone else’s life that little bit brighter.
Lorraine Stewart has been volunteering in the Mudgee community for the last twenty years and it all started with her father.
“Growing up my father always said it was important to help others whenever we could so every year we collected donations for the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal. My father became a volunteer at the Mudgee Museum and encouraged me to go and volunteer there with him.
“One of the other volunteers there was also a volunteer at Mudgee Riding for the Disabled (RDA) and when I heard they were after more volunteers I didn’t hesitate to join up,” said Lorraine.
RDA provides therapeutic horse-riding lessons to people with developmental and physical disabilities as well as seeking to improve the lives of those with mental health difficulties.
“RDA has had the biggest impact on me. We have so many children come and it’s amazing watching them grow. One had been non-verbal for years and after the first couple of weeks riding the horse he started making sounds. We would say the alphabet and he would repeat us. He had never uttered a word before that, so the teachers were crying, his parents were in tears, and the volunteers were crying! It was incredible.
“Just seeing children who are too scared to even touch a horse and then after a couple of weeks they are so excited to get on. It’s amazing seeing how much they change and seeing how much it impacts their life.”
As well as the Museum and Riding for the Disabled, Lorraine also volunteers her time at the Mudgee Community Pantry and the Mudgee CWA.
Lorraine’s efforts for the community were recognised earlier this year when she was awarded the Volunteer Services Award at the Mid-Western Region’s Australia Day ceremony.
“I’m just one person, without every other volunteer these organisations wouldn’t run so as grateful as I was to be nominated, I was amazed to win it. I know none of that would’ve happened without our other volunteers. I want to thank all the volunteers who help every organisation, you’re all amazing.”
Lorraine has many more years of volunteering ahead of her, and she’s encouraging anyone who has the time to consider giving back to their community.
“I love the feeling of being useful and being able to help and support other people. I also love the social aspect of meeting new people, both other volunteers and the people we help.
“Never think you don’t have anything that you can contribute. We have a lady at RDA whose role is to open and close the gate for us and she loves it. You’d think it’s such a little thing, but it’s one less thing to worry about when you’re watching the kids and the horses,” Lorraine said.
“Never think we have enough volunteers either because no matter what charity organisation is around I have never heard any of them saying, ‘sorry we have too many volunteers!’ Volunteers come and go but without volunteers these organisations are unable to run and a lot of people would miss out on the benefits of these services.
“Volunteering even just for an hour or so, every so often, can make a world of difference.”
