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National Volunteer Week 14-20 May 2012
Volunteers - Every One Counts National Volunteer Week (NVW) is the largest celebration of volunteers and volunteerism in Australia, and provides an opportunity to highlight the role of volunteers in our communities and to say thank you to the more than 6.4 million Australians who volunteer
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|  | | | Our Patron
His Excellency Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce AC CSC RANR, Governor of South Australia
A Message From Our Patron
The 10th anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers (IYV+10) this year provided an exceptional opportunity to celebrate the most wonderful element of our community life - the work of volunteers.
The true value of the voluntary contribution is incalculable. It is one of our State's most precious assets. By their example, volunteers fuel our optimism for the future and our faith in humanity.
During the year I have been fortunate to witness many times the admirable qualities of volunteers through their generosity of spirit, passion and commitment, selflessness and optimism.
I often hear a concern that the volunteer spirit is declining, and that perhaps younger people are not volunteering as much as older people. However, as I observe the work that volunteers undertake around the state, I see many younger people volunteering in many different ways - in holiday programs, sport, scouts and guides, music camps, youth programs and the list goes on, so we need to be active in acknowledging these contributions to the community.
By giving a small amount of their time to help others in need, those who volunteer know how enjoyable, satisfying and rewarding this experience can be, and along the way, they also acquire skills and capabilities that are not only beneficial to others, but can also enrich their own lives.
Once again this year, natural disasters have impacted on many communities around the nation, claiming many lives and causing enormous economic and infrastructure losses. Relief work by many volunteers is still continuing in our communities today. Building our nation's resilience to disasters is the collective responsibility of all sectors of society, including all levels of government, business, the non-government sector and individuals.
I want to thank Volunteering SA&NT for leading the way in advancing the not-for-profit Sector in South Australia and the Northern Territory. I commend you for your dedication, the highly-trained and professional services, support and networking opportunities you offer, as it is through your efforts, and by promoting the rich experiences and benefits of volunteering, that the sector will continue to grow. His Excellency
Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce AC CSC RANR
Governor of South Australia
Patron of Volunteering SA&NT
(From 2010-11 Volunteering SA&NT Annual Report)
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VSA&NT Annual Report 2011
