STORIES about service clubs like Lions, Rotary and SES always involve significant ways they’ve helped the community.
As we reach the tail end of 2024, we look back and see how much good was done for the Ipswich community.
However, this comes with a warning,
The future of service clubs is under threat as current members warn waning numbers don’t bode well for the future.
The Moreton Border News has reported on the SES transition in June from Queensland Fire and Emergency Services to Queensland Police Service.
“Fire and Rescue and Rural Fire have become part of the Queensland Fire Department and QFES no longer exists as an organisation,” Danni Bull, Area Controller for SES South Eastern Region said at the time.
“This change has seen an uplift in staffing and funding for the SES.”
Minister for Police and Community Safety Mark Ryan said volunteers, full and part time, were integral to the broader government response in times of substantial need.
It’s unfortunate then, that services like the SES are still in desperate need of volunteers.
We reported in August on how Rosewood’s Country Women’s Association (CWA) was formed.
It was a time when most people had some involvement in their community.
It was 100 years ago when the then Queensland Governor Sir Matthew Nathan suggested local ladies form a CWA branch.
The ladies took notice and did just that.
In the article it’s reported how one of the first tasks was to secure the lease of ‘rooms’ in the main street of the town for use by women as a ‘rest room’ while in Rosewood.
Today’s generations don’t realise the hard work that was done to make the life we have today a little easier.
If it’s a case of ‘you only realise what you’ve got when it’s gone’, more volunteers are needed or society is going to be in strife.
The plight of service clubs fighting to stay alive has been recognised by the newly formed Crisafulli Government.
Last week, Minister for Volunteers Ann Leahy announced an inquiry into volunteering to find out what barriers were preventing high rates of volunteering in the Queensland community.
The parliamentary enquiry will be established before the end of the year with the committee report to be delivered to the government by September next year.
“Volunteering participation has fallen by more than 10 percent over the previous three years,” Ms Leahy said.
“This has impacted many community organisations’ ability to deliver for Queenslanders and respond in times of emergency.”
Take away the organisation and you take away the benefit to community.
In March Moreton Border News reported on Rosewood Lions member Tanya Johnson and the small booklet ‘Emergency Medical Information Book’ she hands out to the community.
Rosewood Lions sponsored the printing of the booklet and made them free to over 65s or people with medical conditions in their local area.
The State Government inquiry into volunteerism will focus on five areas.
Those are the restrictions on volunteering caused by legislation and regulation; current government support for the sector and opportunities for improvement, barriers to volunteering for non volunteers; current restrictions adversely limiting active volunteers; and opportunities for diversification in the volunteer workforce.
“Volunteers make vital social and economic contributions to our state,” Ms Leahy said.
“I have been engaging with volunteers and volunteer organisations and they’re telling me there are a range of obstacles stopping people from volunteering.”
The committee will be tasked with delivering a report to the government by September 2025.
“Public contributions to this inquiry are vital and I encourage those groups and individuals with an interest to get involved when the inquiry opens,” she said.
“The experiences of volunteers on the frontline need to be heard so the barriers they face can be addressed and we can reverse the decline in volunteering numbers.”
