To recognise the special people who volunteer their time and effort to the community, both Notre Dame and St Patrick’s Community Support Centre in Fremantle threw a special breakfast for volunteers.
St Patrick’s vocalists, together with Australia’s Got Talent contestants and the Starlight Hotel Choir, provided entertainment.
More than 200 volunteers, local community members, families, staff and students gathered in Malloy Courtyard at the university’s Fremantle Campus to recognise volunteers and the services they provide to many areas of society, including health care, education, hospitality and social justice.
National Volunteer Week is the largest celebration of volunteers and volunteerism in Australia. It provides an opportunity for the members of the public to show their appreciation for more than six million volunteers and the 700 million hours they contribute to local communities each year.
Executive Director, Admissions and Students Services, Rommie Masarei, said the breakfast was a great way to participate in National Volunteer Week celebrations.
“Volunteers are the backbone of so many organisations. The breakfast was a meaningful way of conveying our gratitude for the selfless contribution of volunteers who bring smiles to the faces of people in our community,” she said.
Notre Dame encourages volunteerism through the newly formed Notre Dame Volunteer Network, which provides students and staff an opportunity to donate their time to community initiatives, including the Red Cross Breakfast Club and the Mary MacKillop Foundation.