20 - 26 June is National Volunteer Awareness Week and the theme this year is Volunteering across the generations. In our New Zealand Red Cross family, we have many families of volunteers, which we featured during this special week.
Volunteers are vital to the work we do at Red Cross in New Zealand. Every week our volunteers serve school children breakfast, deliver Meals on Wheels, work in Red Cross shops and drive people in our communities to hospital. Our emergency management teams are ready to respond when needed, and every year hundreds of volunteers stand on street corners or knock on doors across the country during our annual appeal. Find out more about volunteering here.
This special week was all about recognising you, our New Zealand Red Cross volunteers, and saying thank you for your support. Thank you!
On this page, you'll meet some of New Zealand Red Cross' many dedicated, caring, expert volunteers. Scroll down to find out about our different volunteer roles.on the ball
Cantabrian Carol Ball's earliest memory of New Zealand Red Cross was when she took five cents along to school in the late 1960's to buy two small milk biscuits - she ate one and the other was sent by Red Cross to children in Africa.
Carol has lots more memories of her time involved working for the Red Cross - and that is no real surprise as her family have been supporting it since 1916. Carol has worked for 16 years in various roles for the organisation and her great-aunt, mother and son have all volunteered in different ways.
Just do it
Carol's great-aunt, Dinah sewed her signature on a quilt in 1916 and sent it to England for a hospital during the First World War.
Carol, who is the Canterbury Area Manager and volunteers in different roles outside work hours, says she has a desire to assist the community in the case of a disaster and she wants to make sure everyone is as prepared as they can be.
"When I was growing up my family were very self-sufficient. I think it's because of this that I have a desire to help others in the community who are more vulnerable than me," says Carol who has lived in Canterbury for 25 years.
"I still volunteer. I go and volunteer because I want to, not because it's part of my job description. All volunteers have the same principles and values and that makes it really good for us."
When asked what she would say to young people thinking of becoming a volunteer, Carol says, "Do it. Just do it. You will get more out of it than you realise."
Her passion has been passed on to her son Gareth, 28, who has been the chair of the New Zealand Red Cross National Youth Committee, a Meals on Wheels driver, an administrator and a fundraiser. He has also distributed clothes to those in need and delivered furniture to people who have had their home ravaged by fire.
"I volunteer because I enjoy it and it's a great feeling when you know that you have helped someone out," says Gareth.
Give something back
Gareth, who is now working in sales and does not have as much time to volunteer, believes that the Red Cross is a great organisation for young people to get involved in. He says there is a lot that young people could offer to the community.
Carol suggests people stop, think about ourselves and what we enjoy, and then decide to help others enjoy similar things.
"For example, parents take their children to Saturday sport or training, we go to different community events, we get assistance from someone who knows first aid - none of this would happen without volunteers. If people want these events and services in their area then they need to give something back," says Carol.
walking alongside people
Dunedin volunteer Tric Moller gets inspired by young volunteers because their ideas are fresh and young people get a buzz from helping out.
A distinguished service member of Red Cross, Tric, 54, was instrumental in setting up the Red Cross National Youth Committee, which is a group of student representatives who work to increase the numbers of young volunteers in their own regions.
"Young people are so good at coming together and making things happen. If you have an idea or an interest in something particular, come and tell us about it and we can try and make it work," says Tric, who has given close to 30 years of service to Red Cross, is a Search and Rescue member, works at a GP practice and is a director in a family bio-medical engineering business.
Leadership development
Volunteering is part of the Moller family way. Tric's mum Molly Moller, 83, received a life award for her commitment to Red Cross and is a patron of Dunedin branch's choir. Tric's daughter, Olivia Moller, has a strong interest in international humanitarian law and her son, Jacob, is no stranger to the Red Cross either.
Jacob believes the organisation offers young people more than they would think. He is on the Dunedin Red Cross Response Team and is a training advisor for the successful Dunedin Youth Emergency Preparedness Programme (YEPP) which started in 2008 and has since doubled in size to 20 students aged 15 to 17.
Flexible
"The programme really gets students out of their comfort zones. They learn a lot and as time goes on they work together as a team and leaders develop. It's fantastic to see," says Jacob, who is studying geography at Otago University.
The eight-month practical programme has three main focuses - basic first aid, search and rescue survival skills and civil defence emergencies. One of the founding organisers of YEPP, Jill Hetherington, says the skills are transferable to other parts of students' lives, it is fun and it helps achieve Duke of Edinburgh's Awards.
A new area structure put into place in 2010 aims to increase numbers by giving volunteers more flexibility and making it easier for them to reach out to the most vulnerable in the community.
"You have to remember that people don't want your charity. They want ways or tools to make things better for themselves or their family. So it's about walking alongside them and giving them the tools they require," says Tric.
"There's a perception that you have to sign up for life. It doesn't need to be like that. You don't have to give hours each week - the more of us there are, the more the load is spread, and we all achieve. In some cases, just an hour every year can make a big difference," says Tric.
four generations making a big difference
Isobelle Sorensen didn't stand a chance when she was born in April 2009.
"She's already got a New Zealand Red Cross member's badge and a Red Cross bib," laughs her grandmother, Trudy Taylor, 46. "And when Isobelle's old enough, she'll join too."
Volunteering with New Zealand Red Cross is a family affair for Trudy, whose passion has rubbed off on her family too. Her dad, Bruce Kennedy, 76, has held Red Cross roles including fundraiser, events organiser and branch president.
"You meet such a variety of people and feel part of the community," says Bruce, who has lived on the same road all his life.
Trudy's been involved with Red Cross for 15 years. She manages an emergency response team that provides vital services such as first aid, evacuation, handling mass casualties and welfare during local and national disasters. Plus, Trudy's on the regional Red Cross board and a member of her branch.
Helping vulnerable people
"It gets into your blood - it's a way of life," says Trudy. "I really like the values of the Red Cross and to me it would be a great world if everyone lived by them. But the best thing is knowing I can help vulnerable people."
Trudy's husband Lindsay volunteers too. Their kids Jess Sorensen, 24, (who is Isobelle's mum), Nick Jones, 22, and Tori Bisset, 16, also have the Red Cross bug.
In the 20-strong Whanganui emergency response team, Jess, Nick and Tori do everything from cooking meals for firefighters as they fight a blaze, to collecting money during the Red Cross' annual appeal.
Huge rewards
"Everyone in the emergency response team is really supportive of each other," says Jess, whose husband Dean also volunteers. "We've learned life-saving skills and we're ready to go into action when we're most needed."
Jess says the time she puts in is more than worth it.
"I just love volunteering. Even if you just put in a couple of hours a week, you get huge rewards. And every little bit makes a big difference."
volunteering for New Zealand Red Cross
Volunteers play a vital role in the work of New Zealand Red Cross as they contribute to, and support our humanitarian work at home and overseas.
Our volunteers generously give their time in numerous and varied ways, working in their communities throughout New Zealand.
They're not only part of the team of over 20,000 New Zealand Red Cross volunteers, they're also a part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement - the world's largest humanitarian movement, that places voluntary service at the heart of its work.
volunteering in my community
There is a wide variety of volunteer opportunities available within New Zealand Red Cross. Whether you want to learn new skills, meet new people or simply use the time you have available to do something that makes a real difference, there is something to suit everyone.
Voluntary positions available include:
- Helping with our fundraising activities.
- Working in our Red Cross Shops.
- Assisting with the delivery of New Zealand Red Cross meals on wheels.
- Helping with our New Zealand Red Cross Breakfast in Schools programme.
- Lending a hand with local community services.
- Assisting with our health and transport programmes.
- Working with us to provide disaster welfare and support.
- Working in an administration support role in one of our service centres.
As many of our New Zealand Red Cross community services are tailored to meet local needs, volunteer opportunities vary across the country. To discuss the area of voluntary service that you might be able to assist us with and the opportunities available in your area, call 0800 RED CROSS (0800 733 276) to contact your local Red Cross service centre.
becoming a volunteer
To become a New Zealand Red Cross volunteer send us your details, call us on 0800 RED CROSS (0800 733 276) or visit your local Red Cross service centre to discuss opportunities available in your area.
Alternatively, download and complete our Volunteer Application Form. Then send it to your local Red Cross service centre.
You can make a real difference to those who need it most. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
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