Everyday, volunteers get out of bed and use their time and energy to help others, to listen
to others, to build community, and to find their own place in that community. It is an act
of commitment and belief in the goodness in ourselves and other people. Our community
would just not function if these volunteers were not willing to step up and help.
Fortunately, there are many people who do volunteer for a myriad of organizations. These
organisations include ones working in and promoting health, education, welfare,
environment, culture, arts, sport, and often a mix of all of these.
National Volunteer Week (17-23 May) seeks to recognise the invaluable contribution of
volunteers to their communities and to the Australian society as whole. This exhibition is
an attempt to recognise and show people who volunteer, but it is just a snapshot of the
many volunteers working across our region. There are many more volunteers
participating in our community and we wish we had the time to include more groups
(maybe there will be a next time). Our hats go off to all the volunteers. Twenty
organizations across Cairns have been photographed and we thank them for their time
and patience. These are all organizations which rely on the generosity, hard work, and
community spirit of volunteers.
The exhibition was initiated by FNQ Volunteers. It was curated by Crate59 Art Collective.
The photographers were Jennifer Frei and Mark Bennett. Cairns Regional Council
provided funding and logistical support.
Check out the film which was part of the “Putting the Spotlight on Volunteers” exhibition.