Please contact Christine Pound on 9870 7822 or christine.pound@easternvolunteers.org.au if you can assist.

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Eastern Volunteers is hosting a luncheon to celebrate the contribution of our volunteers.  Our volunteers provide administration support and transport, providing inclusiveness for vulnerable members of our community.

Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills, meet new people and achieve positive community outcomes.

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Suzanne started volunteering at the Glen Park Community Cafe seven years ago. In that time, Suzanne developed valuable skills in communication, coffee preparation, kitchen duties and OH&S.

Suzanne and Ismat

Suzanne’s time as a volunteer at Glen Park led to new opportunities, where she completed a Barista course and is now fully qualified in coffee-making. Suzanne is a valuable member of the GPCC family.
Asked why she liked volunteering with GPCC, Suzanne said, “It’s a good place to work, it’s lots of fun and the staff are like family to me. They are always making jokes and keep me smiling all day. It’s a happy environment and I love meeting new people here too”.

Ismat also volunteers at the Glen Park Community Café and has proven to be an integral part of the café’s operations. She assists in preparing delicious meals and drinks; provides great customer service and register operations. She is renowned for a warm and generous personality.

Ismat commented on what she likes about volunteering “The staff, my supervisor, the beautiful location and the fact it’s close to home. I like dealing with the customers, it’s a friendly environment to work in”.
We congratulate Suzanne and Ismat for receiving recognition as Volunteers of the Year at Glen Park Community Centre

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Together with Vic North (GM) she met some 15 current users on 27 February, with reassurance the service continues while EV review current processes.

EV now has six buses for hire through the ETR register. The Upper Yarra Community Co-op presented $50,000 to help purchase a new bus for their area

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Each Christmas, Mother’s Day and Fathers Day, EV co-ordinates a number of committed volunteers to wrap a large number of gifts for Eastland customers to give to lucky recipients.

More than $5,000 was raised for EV through the fantastic efforts of generous volunteers. Many generously donated a lot of time during the hectic Christmas period.

Lyn Coad, EV Assistant Transport Manager, has led this initiative for some years. Lyn says, “The most satisfying part of our involvement is the generosity of volunteers who come out of the woodwork to help who we have not previously had contact with, who we are able to build good relationships with. Also, the way in which many of the customers who want their special present wrapped beautifully really appreciate the effort the volunteers to go to ensure that the gift looks fantastic is very heart warming.”

From a volunteer’s perspective, participating can be a really great experience. Ann Kruspe, a full-time care worker, managed to fit in over 20 shifts in the three weeks preceding Christmas.
Vision-impaired volunteer Joan Duncan was accompanied by Hillsy, her Seeing Eye dog. After approaching EV for volunteer work, Joan was thrilled to take part when she heard about the gift wrapping service. She loves wrapping presents and reports, “I had a ball. It is a wonderful way of meeting people on a level playing field where you are of service.”

All donations go towards supporting the activities of EV by providing much needed funds to assist in service delivery. We’re thankful to Eastland for giving us the opportunity to run their gift wrapping service and also providing an excellent range of paper and ribbons.

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“After thirteen years it was time to refresh the EV Fun Run. We’re offering new courses and a dedicated social walk to enjoy the surrounds of Lilydale,” Eastern Volunteers Marketing Manager Alex Makin said. “This year the Fun Run better caters for competitive runners through electronic timing, so participants can focus on the race and automatically receive their times.”

The Eastern Volunteers Annual Fun Run is held each March at Lilydale Lake. The 2013 Fun Run includes a new course configuration featuring 5km and 10km runs and a 5km walk. A dedicated 2.5km kids run is offered, as well as a nature walk around Lillydale Lake.

“Teams are returning for 2013, as are the popular family and individual categories”, Mr. Makin said. “All participants can raise funds by sponsoring their participation, encouraging colleagues, friends and family to support Eastern Volunteers and the community.”

“The 2013 Fun Run promises to deliver a new era for this popular event. Register online for your chance to win our Early Bird Prize, including one nights accommodation and breakfast at the Sebel in Chirnside Park,” Mr Makin concluded.

Eastern Volunteers Annual Fun Run
Where: Lillydale Lake, Swansea Road Lilydale
When: Sunday, 17th of March 2012 register by 8:30am or online until 14th March
Details: Contact Eastern Volunteers on 9870 7822 or visit www.easternvolunteers.org.au/funrun2013
Sponsors: Fernwood Fitness Chirnside, Mt Evelyn and Montrose Branches of the Bendigo Community Bank, Stockdale and Leggo (Lilydale), Sebel Heritage Yarra Valley

About Eastern Volunteers:
Eastern Resource Centre Inc. (Eastern Volunteers) is a not for profit organisation established in 1976, that provides volunteer recruitment and volunteer assisted transport to people living in the cities of Maroondah and Whitehorse and the Shire of Yarra Ranges.

ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES: ALEX MAKIN ON 0409 136 213
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Our One-to-One Volunteer-Assisted Transport Service is completely dependent on volunteer drivers. We want to ensure you have the opportunity to say what is really important in delivering this vital service to our many clients.

This is the first time we’ll be meeting in 2013. We’d appreciate your feedback and input. A few items are already pencilled-in for discussion. There’s plenty of time to add other issues you’d like to see on the agenda. Please, let us know.

These are times for talking with other drivers and our office team, learning, swapping stories and celebrating together. Based on positive feedback, we shall continue to hold Drivers’ functions at our offices, New Street, Ringwood.

We’re planning a regular format—a 1.5 hour interactive session followed by a light lunch. For our Christmas celebration, we will continue the tradition of sharing an early Christmas dinner, as in 2012.
It was a great time. Just look at the photos below!

RSVP with attendance and any agenda items by Friday 22nd March
Phone: 9870 7822 or email Diana Brown on diana.brown@easternvolunteers.org.au

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The contribution from the Footmen Club will assist EV in delivering its services.

The Footmen Club is a business based service organisation. The Footmen Club has been an ongoing contributor to EV and previously provided assistance for the purchase of a vehicle.

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Volunteer drivers provided 23,750 services during the year, travelling almost 300,000 kilometres and contributing 14,000 hours to help our clients to get to their appointments.
The AGM also confirmed the Board of Management for the 2012/2013 year.

The board appointments are as follows:

• Terry Macdonald- Chairman
• Dr Mehdi Taghian- Deputy Chair
• Yvonne Putz – Secretary
• Tricia Ziemer -Treasurer

Joined by the following board members:

• Sue Edmonds
• Patricia Jonescue
• Kevin Pickthall
• Allan Tulloch has also been co-opted onto the Board of Management.

The 36th Annual Report is available at the Eastern Volunteers website www.easternvolunteers.org.au.

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The Eastern Volunteers meeting room is suitable for board meetings, workshops or seminars.

Our new building has meeting and breakout rooms that are available for hire, both inside and outside of normal office hours.

Our Training and Meeting Rooms can fit approximately 30 attendees each or 65 if combined. These rooms are equipped with AV equipment, including high-definition LED panels, computers, whiteboards and lecterns.

In addition, we have two smaller breakout rooms, suitable for one-on-one interviews or small group discussions. For organisations seeking permanent accommodation, we also have 170sqm of office-space available for short-term or longer-term lease. This includes exclusive rear access and shared front door access, two car parking spaces and shared kitchen and amenities.

Please contact Alex Makin on alex.makin@easternvolunteers.org.au or 9870 7822 to discuss our meeting rooms or office space.

Content from Eastern Volunteers - Leading the Way in Community Services