From the Superintendent

Volunteers are an important part of Wesley Mission’s history, our present and I trust, our future. I am delighted that this report has been produced in response to the 2001 International Year of Volunteering as it provides an opportunity to publicly acknowledge the amazing contribution volunteers have made to the ministry of this church. As we head into the new millennium our world is becoming increasingly complex and technologically orientated. In a community faced with increasing social problems, the volunteer has become one of the chief sources of human contact.

It is serendipitous that this International Year coincides with Australia’s Centenary of Federation. Both events are about recognizing the contribution made by ordinary Australians acting from a basis of high ideals and worthy ambitions throughout our history. Both events are also about our future.

The future health of our communities, our nation, our robust democracy, depends on the involvement of our citizens. The greater the degree of participation, the stronger and more flourishing will be our democracy. As a nation, Australia’s future is embedded within the nurture, encouragement and development of our people. Volunteers represent the spirit and heart of a nation, generously donating their lifeblood of time and talents, - active citizenship.

Volunteers are people who undertake unpaid work for the community as a whole or for individual members of it. Volunteering happens when there are jobs to be done which could not or would not be done by paid personnel; when individuals are inspired to give service; when special projects are undertaken which add value to individual and community life, and voluntary work is a powerful source for social progress and the building up of civic society.

However, there is a risk attached to utilising volunteer service. The involvement of volunteers in community organisations requires the commitment of skilled management alongside a sustained allocation of resources. Volunteers are an essential area of organisational investment. If we are clear in our understanding of what our core business is and of the culture within which we deliver our services, then we are able to attract and recruit volunteers from within the good will, or the ‘social capital’, of the community.

Wesley Mission Board and Management pay tribute to all volunteers. Through this report, we want to publicly promote their contribution and achievements. We are committed to generating increased awareness, not only of the achievements of our past and present volunteers but by highlighting as well, the future potential of volunteering. The greater the degree of participation, the stronger and more flourishing our community, our nation, our democracy. Let us ensure that volunteers do not become an endangered species - they are far too precious a resource for our nation to lose.

I commend this report to you and once you have read it, I challenge you to become involved - volunteer!

Rev Dr Gordon Moyes AM
Superintendent, Wesley Mission