By STEVE GRAY
BETTE Bonney works well over 40 hours a week as a volunteer, and her enthusiasm is catching.
Along with her other voluntary commitments, Mrs Bonney is the Southern Downs Regional Council’s volunteer co-ordinator – a role she fills as a volunteer!
Mrs Bonney says volunteering is an opportunity and a privilege rather than a duty or a commitment to society.
She has volunteered with church and social groups over the decades, but her involvement has grown in recent years.
“It started with chairing the strategy group with domestic and family violence prevention a few years ago, then as part of a management committee for Warwick Safe Haven when it started in 2010.”
Mrs Bonney then became a volunteer with the SDRC aiming to lift volunteer involvement across the community.
“It just so happened that I was in that capacity when the floods came,” she said.
“Overnight we set up for the first time ever a volunteer response for the floods, to help with clean-ups.
“That’s where a big journey started.”
Within two weeks 200 people had signed up, and each had to be fitted into a role that suited their skills.
That done, the so-called Weekend Warriors who were helping local farmers recover from flood damage had to be organised with accommodation, meals, transport and directed to families in need.
Mrs Bonney then had a short paid role training volunteers, an exercise she hopes to repeat next year in some more of the villages of the Southern Downs.
She continues to co-ordinate volunteer activities day and night as president at Safe Haven, a domestic violence shelter.
Another 40-plus hours a week goes into the Southern Downs Flexible Learning Hub which deals with young people who don’t fit into mainstream schools. Her husband Owen is senior co-ordinator.
In the meantime Mrs Bonney has found time to do a Certificate IV in volunteer program co-ordination, among other qualifications.
“The very positive thing that has come to me about volunteering is that I’ve been able to participate and contribute in the community things that I’m passionate about,” she said.
“It’s an opportunity to use your skills and what you’re passionate about to achieve and move things forward.”
Mrs Bonney says she’s seen some incredible growth in people after they came to volunteer.
It is also a great way to over a period of unemployment. Mrs Bonney first saw this when she worked for Mission Employment several years ago.
“When we put people into volunteer work they often responded very positively,” she said.
“It’s a great gateway for people to get out there and volunteer to help at events or something like that.
“Volunteering has got a lot of capacity to build people up at the same time as it builds the community up.”
It also can provide references from voluntary organisations – something prospective employers like to see.
Mrs Bonney said volunteering is also a good way to overcome a period of mental or physical disability because it doesn’t have the responsibilities and pressures of paid work, even as the activity improves chances of future employment.
She said the Southern Downs has a high proportion of volunteers. Short-term volunteering is also available at activities like Driver Reviver for those who can’t commit for a longer term.
