Volunteers reunited in Cobden

CLOSE to 100 Cobden and district community members came together to celebrate the concept of volunteerism in the local area during the recent Volunteers Reunite event.

By Support Team

Sharon Oates, Betty Hallyburton and Val Maynard.

CLOSE to 100 Cobden and district community members came together to celebrate the concept of volunteerism in the local area during the recent Volunteers Reunite event.

An event traditionally held annually before the COVID pandemic struck, residents of all ages took the opportunity to join others in the acknowledgement of the importance of voluntary work in all aspects of society – in service, sport, education, health, interest groups, religion, recreation, charity, tourism, business and community.

A highlight of this year’s celebration was the collaboration of Cobden Technical School’s Student Representative Council (SRC) and Progressing Cobden with the evening being hosted in the foyer at the school.

Students helped cater the event, with Year 7 students cooking pizza entrees while VCAL students prepared the main course and the Year 9’s completed the three-course feast with mousse desserts.

Emcee and school captain Willoughby Perriss told the guests the school was in awe of the voluntary work carried out by the community, particularly thanking those who had assisted the school over its more than 50 years of existence.

He said the school valued its connection with the community.

Fellow student Lachlan Herschell focused on past community ventures completed by the school and asked for suggestions regarding VCAL projects which could be taken on in future years by students.

Other speakers included principal Rohan Keert and Corangamite Shire councillor Jo Beard and, finally, Progressing Cobden’s Frank Martin who explained Volunteers Re-Unite was the first part of a two-stage program aimed at making all Cobden and district residents more aware of the opportunities availableto them.

Early next year, it is intended to hold Re-Connecting Cobden where organisations will be invited to present themselves in any way they choose – in a type of expo-environment over a full day at the Civic Hall.

The concept will be further discussed at Progressing Cobden’s November 7 meeting when all organisations are welcome to attend to assist in planning.