If you’re new to Swan Hill or the surrounding area, connecting with your local community is an important step to making new friends and embracing life in this regional area. Even if you’ve lived in this region for some time, making local connections is vital for your health and wellbeing.
Volunteering for a local community group is one way of connecting. Not only will your participation be extremely welcomed and valued, but you’ll also have the chance to make new friends and enjoy some quality time with people with whom you may share similar interests.
Emergency volunteering helps you to feel valued
Emergency volunteering allows you to assist people during an emergency such as fire or flood. This gives you a feeling of helping others when they’ve been affected by an emergency situation and are in need of assistance.
If helping others is something that resonates with you, consider joining VICSES as a volunteer. Not only will you learn new skills and form new friendships, but you can also make a difference in people’s lives. You can contact VICSES at swanhill@ses.vic.gov.aufor further information.
Join the library or local theatre group
If books or the arts are more your thing, how about volunteering at the Swan Hill Regional Library or joining a local theatre group.
The volunteers at the Swan Hill Regional Library can help in a variety of different ways. This can include re-shelving books, covering new books or even delivering books to people who are house-bound. The library also has volunteers who run their Saturday morning story times or who teach basic computer skills to seniors.
Volunteer at an op shop
Local op shops are always looking for volunteers and your assistance would be greatly welcomed. If you’ve never worked in retail before, this can be a great way to develop new skills while you’re giving your time back to the community. You can choose to be a regular volunteer or just volunteer on a special project. You’ll also find that you’ll make lasting friendships.
Here’s a list of the various op shops around Swan Hill:
- Vinnies Swan Hill Op Shop, 140 Curlewis Street, Swan Hill
- Salvation Army Thrift Shop, 247-249 Campbell Street, Swan Hill
- Red Cross Op Shop, 258 Campbell Street, Swan Hill
- Hospital Op Shop, 29-31 McCrae St, Swan Hill
Join a local service club
There are plenty of service clubs around Swan Hill you can join and help out in the various community projects that they undertake.
- Swan Hill Sunrise Rotary Club: meets every Thursday at 6 pm at 17 McCallum Street.
Rotary clubs are involved with many community activities and focus mainly on humanitarian projects such as assisting charitable organisations and providing scholarships for young people both locally and around the world.
- Business & Professional Women’s Club (BPW): meets every second Wednesday of the month at the Swan Hill Club Function Room.
This club has been in operation since 1957 and its vision is to empower women in business and enhance personal development. They support, lobby and mentor on issues that are important to women and girls.
- Swan Hill Lions Club: Dinner meetings are held on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at the Murray Downs Golf & Country Club.
Similar to the Rotary club, the Lions Club strives to make a difference in the local community as well as in communities around the world. This includes working on both health and environmental projects.
- Swan Hill CFA: You don’t have to fight fires to be a volunteer with the CFA. There are also support roles that include administration, logistical and financial support, community education and coordinating fundraising campaigns and other events.
- Swan Hill Branch of CWA: meet in the Sunshine Room of the Uniting Church.
The CWA is for women of all ages. Its aim is to create friendships, learn and share new skills, assist those most vulnerable in the community and be an advocate for change.
For other volunteering opportunities, you can contact the Swan Hill Neighbourhood House (98-100 Gray Street, Swan Hill ‒ 5032 1549 ‒ shnh98@bigpond.com). They have set up a register of both willing volunteers and organisations that need them.
Can we help to connect you in Swan Hill?
We know the local community and can connect you with the organisations or groups that might interest you, so why not give us a call on 03 5032 2507. We’re here to help.
