International Volunteer Day is held each year on 5 December. It is viewed as a unique chance for volunteers and organisations to celebrate their efforts, to share values and to promote the amazing contribution volunteers make to the community.
This extraordinarily challenging year has shone a spotlight on the power of volunteers in Australia and around the world. With the 2020 theme – Together we Can Through Volunteering – this has never been more poignant.
This year, 147 City of Perth volunteers collectively gave about 10,482 hours of their time across three city services, including the iCity Visitor Information Centre, the Citiplace Community Centre, and the Access and Inclusion Advisory Group.
City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas publicly thanked the City's volunteers at the Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event held yesterday in the Town Hall.
"Volunteers are invaluable to the City of Perth, its visitors and the local community," Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas said.
"We are currently in our 19th year for the iCity Volunteer Program with 63 volunteers that dedicate their time at the iCity Visitor Information Centre, and act as roving ambassadors and as City tour guides.
"Friendly bilingual volunteers are on hand to assist visitors with all the latest information on City events, activities and attractions.
"The Community Centre on Wellington Street is in its 31st year of operation and the contribution that our volunteers make is amazing. This creates the welcoming and vibrant atmosphere that the Citiplace Community Centre is known for.
"On behalf of the City of Perth, I would like to thank the volunteers for their time, energy and incredible commitment in 2020," he said.
East Perth resident Elizabeth Cook has volunteered for five years at the iCity Kiosk. Ms Cook, 70, has hopped in a jet boat, visited WA Museum Boola Bardip, and plans to ride a water bike ¬— all to better inform visitors of the various attractions available within the City of Perth.
"Familiarisation tours like this enable us to promote attractions with greater authenticity," she said.
"While we don't have a lot of tourists this year, some people are reconnecting with the city. They are completely blown away."
