Service Club Week 2016 was celebrated in the Light Electorate with the official launching of 2016/17 Service Club directory at the Gawler Country Women’s Association Hall by the Chair of the Association of Community Service Organisations, Ms Kath Gribble.
The directory, which promotes the work undertaken by service clubs in the electorate, has been prepared by local Member of Parliament, Mr Tony Piccolo.
Mr Piccolo said the directory will be sent to new electors to the electorate as a way of promoting service clubs and hopefully encouraging people to join and participate in one of the many clubs in the local area.
The directory is also accessible online at http://www.tonypiccolo.org/light-electorate-service-club-directory In launching the directory, Ms Gribble outlined the work undertaken by volunteers in the community and how volunteering was both beneficial to the community being served and the individual involved.
Ms Gribble is a member of Soroptimist International in the Barossa Valley which is one of the clubs listed in the directory.
The Soroptimist Club membership is made up of women who want to make a difference to the lives of other women and girls in the local community and across the world.
Mr Piccolo said the directory covered service clubs that were either located in the Light electorate or provided a service to the electorate.
Each listing in the directory outlines the objectives of the Club, its office holders, contact details and examples of work undertaken by the club.
Mr Piccolo said through their fundraising efforts, service clubs are able to support a range of projects which benefit children, people in need and the environment, amongst many others.
“In fact, the depth and breadth of activities service clubs are involved in is endless,” he said.
“Not only do service clubs support their communities through their own projects but also by lending a hand to other community organisations,” said Mr Piccolo.
“A number of local events would not take place if it were not for the volunteer labour provided by service clubs.
Service clubs do most of their work at the local level but through their international affiliations they also support important projects in developing nations; the elimination of polio is just one example.
Mr Piccolo said in times of crisis service clubs pitch in with direct assistance by providing support for emergency services workers and make funds available to support those affected by natural disasters.
“Through this directory, we hope to promote the work of service clubs and encourage members of our communities to join in and make a difference,” said Mr Piccolo.
Mr Piccolo’s comments were echoed by Lions Club of Gawler secretary Mr David Schwartz. Mr Schwartz said the directory was a good idea.
“I think it is going to help people coming into the town. It will help get people in [to service clubs] and it will help new people coming into the town to find service clubs, “ said Mr Schwartz.
Rotary Club of Gawler Light, Mr David Weatherley said the directory means that you will have in one place the services clubs’ information.
“People will not only be able to get an understanding of what they do, but also how to contact them and may be become volunteers themselves, it’s a great opportunity in that sense,” said Mr Weatherley.
Rose Muirhead, President Kiwanis Roseworthy Hewett said it is not easy [getting new members] I am hoping this will help.
“A lot of people don’t know about Kiwanis and I think this will be a start,” Ms Muirhead said.
Mr Piccolo said the directory was launched this week as our small contribution to Mark Service Club Week 2016.Mr Piccolo thanked the members of the service clubs who enrich the lives of those people living in the Light Electorate.