Above: Bob Wadsley is a grassroots volunteer whose work can be seen all around Healesville.By Kath Gannaway
BOB Wadsley and Helen Skerry are typical of thousands of volunteers whose contribution was recognised as part of International Volunteer Day on 5 December.
They have found the special niche which not only matches their particular talent to a need in the community but is also one which they enjoy.
Mr Wadsley’s forte is plants. Since coming to Healesville nearly 20 years ago he has had a green thumb in almost every revegetation project around the district.
“His passion has always been gardening and plants,” said Lou Sbalchiero who organised many of the projects through his involvement with Bushlink, Rivendell and Healesville Environment Watch (HEWI).
“He’s really carried that passion into his community work and has supported a number of organisations with revegetation activities in Queen’s Park, along the Watts River, at Badger Creek and at Gulf Station in Yarra Glen.”
Bob said he first became involved in community work in the late 1980s when he was asked to help out with the restoration of the Badger Creek Old School Building.
“Then I met Lou and John Armstrong at Rivendell and we worked pretty hard for a couple of years potting up plants to sell at the Gateway festivals,” he said.
Working at grassroots level suits Mr Wadsley fine.
“I help out around the place where I can,” he said summing up his contribution.
Helen Skerry’s passion is people. She found her niche when she joined the dynamic team of volunteers at the Yarra Valley Regional Tourism Association’s information centre in Healesville.
Last week Ms Skerry, along with fellow YVRTA volunteer Jean Raymond, were presented with 10 year service certificates.
Ms Skerry said she first got involved when she set up a B&B in Hurstbridge.
“It was a way of learning more about the area and it worked very well – it was good for me and good for them,” she said.
Now retired, Ms Skerry said she stayed on as a volunteer, travelling all the way from Mill Park because she enjoys the work and the people.
“It keeps my brain ticking over. You learn so much about the area and get to meet some great people from all around Australia and from overseas,” she said.
YVRTA coordinator Margaret Baker said the centre relied very much on volunteers such as Ms Skerry and Ms Raymond.
“We are so grateful to have all these lovely volunteers who come from all walks of life and give anything from four hours to two days a week,” she said. “We simply could not function with them.”
International Volunteer Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1985 to highlight the role of volunteers in their communities.
