The Phillip Island and Community Learning Centre (PICAL) celebrated and thanked the volunteers that enable the delivery of vital services into our community, at a special morning tea to mark National Volunteer Week.

Volunteers from the 21 different services offered by PICAL, were at last week’s thank you morning tea.

CEO Greg Thompson was delighted to welcome all present, after what he described as two very difficult years affected by Covid lockdowns, when it had been hard to get the 150 volunteers involved at PICAL together.

He said of the 60 or so different services that are run out of PICAL, a large number of these rely entirely on volunteers for delivery.

And it would be impossible to operate without them.

But he also warned that PICAL was facing an uncertain future, due to its upcoming relocation (see separate story) and funding issues, and that he is unsure of what lies ahead 

Mr Thompson said Phillip Island was competing for grants against the whole of Gippsland to help fund its services, and it was difficult.

He said PICAL housed one of 21 Neighbourhood Houses in Gippsland, and the entire sector had experienced “trouble getting these grants”.

“Our need is great, but the needs of many required to be met,” he said.

A new Network Manager, Toni Halloran-Lavelle, has been appointed to represent the sector, and the priority for her position will be to apply for grant funding.

Ms Halloran-Lavell addressed those present at the morning tea.

She congratulated the volunteers at PICAL for the “enormous” amount of work they carry out; and commented on the fact that Phillip Island has the highest number of volunteers of all 21

Neighbourhood Houses in Gippsland, and that it was achieving great things.

She agreed lack of grant funding was an enormous problem that must be addressed when it comes to the delivery of vital services.

“Neighbourhood Houses are funded for one manager, and then funded according to the services provided.

“They can only open their doors, thanks to the efforts of you volunteers,” she said.

“You are a powerful force.”

She commended PICAL and its volunteers for carrying on throughout the Covid period, and in particular for the welfare services provided.

“You did not close your doors as so many did. You made sure your community was okay.

“Neighbourhood Houses saved lives over the pandemic. They delivered food to people who had none, and picked up prescriptions when needed, among other things.

“We need to focus and shout loud and proud about what we are achieving, and what more we can achieve with funding.”

Ms Halloran-Lavelle said that a strong voice must be created to showcase the work of all 21 Neighbourhood Houses in Gippsland and to this end, a website was launched at the morning tea.

Volunteer roles

Local people volunteer their services in an astonishing array of roles and their efforts were celebrated at the volunteers morning tea.

Peter Paul and Ron Hateley are JPs who weekly make themselves available to sign documents that need to be witnessed by a Justice of the Peace. Both men voluntarily provide the service free of charge.

Glenn Farrugia volunteers as a tutor for the PICAL construction course and is also constructing a community food caravan.

The old caravan was donated to PICAL by a local church and is currently being restored and painted by Glenn and other volunteers. When finished it will be made available for not-for-profit groups such as schools, sporting clubs and similar organisations, to use for fundraising at local events and markets.

Members of the Boomerang Bags group produce attractive reusable bags distributed to local businesses; and recyclable bags used by PICAL’s emergency food relief department. An estimated 21,500 bags have been produced by the volunteers in the past five years. The volunteers have diversified slightly in recent weeks and are making toy whales for the upcoming Phillip Island Whale festival.

Close to 6000 healthy meals have been cooked and distributed to community members in need over the past year, by volunteers involved with PICAL’s food relief effort and casserole bank program.

It is open daily for community members who need food assistance, and staffed by volunteers rostered weekly to run the service.

While some volunteers cook, others collect food donations early each morning from local supermarkets and businesses, such as bread, meat, vegetables, dairy products and other goods, and the pantry volunteers sort and distribute these on an as need basis.

The food can be collected by those in need between 10am and 2pm. Some of the food goes to the casserole bank team to be cooked into nutritious meals, to be included in the relief hampers.

Nicky Kelly is a volunteer in the PICAL reception office. Her role is an important one, “joining the dots” as she puts it. Those who arrive needing help of some sort are directed by Nikki to the service that best suits the need expressed. She is able to direct them to the organisation at PICAL or elsewhere in the community that can provide the assistance required.

“People often don’t know what is available in the circumstance they find themselves in, and are pleasantly surprised at the assistance we can give; from explaining the social services that are available and where, through to connecting them with local groups both within and outside the centre,” she said.

Congratulations and thank you to all the PICAL volunteers for the amazing work they do for our community.