Ain’t no doubt about it, volunteers do some pretty amazing things for our community.
Whether it’s supporting local services, giving other locals a helping hand or keeping our spaces safe, we’re so lucky to have them around making a difference.
And did you know there’s even a week dedicated to Volunteers. Volunteer week running from the 19th to the 25th of May is all about celebrating the power of people working together and to say a big thank you for everything they do for us.
We wanna give a big shout out to all the incredible volunteers in the Illawarra and are showcasing some amazing peeps who are doing impactful work!
Say g’day to some local volunteers and find out how and why they love what they do below:
Alyssa Norris
1:: Hey Alyssa! Where do you volunteer and what do you do?
I am a volunteer surf life saver from Windang SLSC,
2:: So cool, what’s the best part about it?
One of the best parts of surf life saving is simply being able to save a life and give people that reassurance that we are there to protect them while at the beach and being a beacon of safety.
But the best part of it is the people you meet. Life saving has such an amazing community of so many other passionate people all there for the same reason to keep the community safe and I have made so many friendships through the love of being a lifesaver.
3 :: Got a favourite moment or story from volunteering?
When I was younger I was very scared of the bigger waves and wasn’t very excited to come to the beach, I slowly grew out of that fear but even when I turned 13 and decided to do my SRC to become a lifesaver no one believed in me, or believed I could complete it.
So I was very proud of myself when I did receive my certificate and got to wear the red and yellow uniform.
Now nearly 10 years later still patrolling and now teaching the younger kids, It’s the biggest joy in my life when I now help the kids that were like me and are scared or not as confident pass their certificates proving to the people who are saying to them that they won’t pass.
4 :: What would you say to someone keen to volunteer?
Surf life saving is a great organisation for anyone, there is something different for everyone so even if you don’t think you are the strongest and fastest there are many different qualities that make a great lifesaver.
Surf life saving is also an organisation that the more you put in the more you get out, as it allows you to follow what you’re passionate about and can help you grow so much as a person, you can be patrolling on the beach between the flags or you can be trained to use boats and jet skis as there really is something for everyone.
Extra note: Alyssa was recently awarded the 2025 Wollongong Local Woman of the year and 2024 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards regional Illawarra Awards. How incredible is that?!
Vanessa Matysek
1:: Hey Vanessa! Where do you volunteer and what do you do?
I volunteer with the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra [MCCI]. I contribute by helping older members of the Serbian community across Wollongong to have lunch together each Thursday. This is a welcome break for fellowship and might be their biggest outing for the week. Due to age, culture and language socialisation can be problematic.
2:: Lovely, what’s the best part about it?
While it does involve a lot of driving, at the end of the day I like to think, maybe what I do is very impactful in the lives of older Australians.
3 :: Got a favourite moment from volunteering?
I love that I have always felt welcome and accepted by staff and clients alike at the MCCI.
4 :: What would you say to someone keen to volunteer?
I think the opportunity to volunteer and contribute to the richness of older persons lives is very satisfying in a very human way. Be bold.
Mark Bright
1 :: Hey Mark, where do you volunteer and what do you do?
I volunteer at Greenacres Disability Service
2 :: Amazing, what’s the best part about it?
Meeting people who are doing a great job caring for people with disability, its uplifting to see positivity in the local community rather than all the negativity you see on the news, you realise there are nice people who want to make a difference and improve the lives of others, you always go home with a smile on your face.
It puts your own life into perspective and makes you appreciate the opportunities you have had.
3 :: Got a favourite moment or story from volunteering?
We always play spotto on the bus and I always lose, it’s very competitive, we just laugh all day. It’s great fun.
4 :: What would you say to someone keen to volunteer?
My wife and I work. We have 2 teenagers. We also volunteer at other places, just make the time to do it even if it’s only once per month.
Susanne Stjepanovic
1 :: Hey Susanne, where do you volunteer and what do you do?
I volunteer with Harmony Greenacres Kanahooka. I help participants have an enjoyable day and life experiences.
2 :: What’s the best part about it?
The best part is seeing the participants engage in their own unique ways, especially when they choose to spend time with me. It’s such a rewarding feeling.
3 :: Got a favourite moment or story from volunteering?
One of my favourite memories is a trip to Robertson, where we visited an old potato that had been painted to look like Babe the pig. It was a muddy day, and we joked that we were all “pigs in mud”. It made the whole experience fun and memorable.
4 :: What would you say to someone keen to volunteer?
Volunteering is what you make of it. I’ve always felt valued and appreciated at Greenacres by the staff, participants and volunteers.
Sharon Elizabeth Mearing
1 :: Hey Sharon, where do you volunteer and what do you do?
I volunteer at the Wollongong Art Gallery. I conduct free group tours for all ages and often assist artists with their workshops.
2 :: What’s the best part about it?
The best part about volunteering at the Wollongong Art Gallery is being part of a well-supported team. During 2020 I joined the existing team of gallery guides after completing a group training session over several weeks led by Education Officer Julie Danilov and Curator Louise Brand.
I learnt about; the history of the art gallery and its collections, practical guiding skills and various ways to create interactive opportunities for discussion among visitors of different age groups.
The volunteers have become my friends and we enjoy our monthly strategy meetings with Julie often followed by edifying artists and curator’s talks.
3 :: Got a favourite moment or story from volunteering?
There have been many enjoyable moments, one of which was collaboratively creating short videos accessible via QR wall labels about some key items in the collection which appear on the gallery’s YouTube.Here is one of the videos about Pat Brassington.
Another memorable time occurred during the exhibition “Boundary Strider” in 2022, curated by local artist Iain Whittaker. As I was conducting a tour, pointing out interesting features of the artwork “The Allegory of Good Government” by visiting American artist Carrie Ann Baade, little did I know that she was in the group listening to my spiel! It seems I did a good job and she added to what I was saying to the thrill of the other tour participants. This made interactions within the group all the more meaningful and I was delighted.
4 :: What would you say to someone keen to volunteer?
Volunteering opens a world of unexpected experiences as well as the comradeship of other volunteers. I love having a purpose, preparing for the tours and learning about artists’ practices that may at first seem to have challenging motives. I always find something to love about the art on display. I also feel a connection to the community of the gallery, welcomed and respected for the effort I put in.