Published in the Riverine Herald on August 16, 2017
THE Red Cross Emergency Services team in Echuca is facing an emergency of its own.
And it is a crisis of viability – the team is down to its last six volunteers.
“We really, really need more than that,” Red Cross Echuca coordinator Judy Anderson said.
“Some of our volunteers had to leave because they were moving out of town or they no longer had time to spare,” she said.
“But by being part of it there’s a lot of opportunity for development, especially for younger people.
“We provide a lot of training and leadership skills development as well.”
Red Cross will now be running an urgent recruitment drive to attract new volunteers, and there will be a series of information sessions in Echuca about the work emergency services volunteers do for their communities.
“You’re helping people who are suffering hardship, and you get a warm feeling of being able to help people in need,” Judy, a 19-year veteran with the group, said.
In that time Judy has lent a helping hand to survivors of floods, fires and storms as well as a range of personal issues.
“Helping people does give you a tremendous amount of satisfaction. Anybody who joins would find it worthwhile,” she said.
The Red Cross emergency services needs all hands on deck regardless of age or background according to volunteer leadership support officer Caitlin Zacharewicz, who is running the Echuca recruitment drive.
“We have everyone from 10-year-olds, to mums and dads, to retirees,” she said.
“It’s a really unique way to be involved in your community and support people.”