Inspired

HOLIDAY VOLUNTEERS
Volunteer el Caer Eno he Eerience
une Chandler eartent o Enironent and atural eource
Campground Hosts are volunteers who freely give their
time to the campgrounds in the State’s parks and reserves.
Campground Hosts undertake two major roles, helping
campers to settle in and enjoy their camping experience,
and assisting Park Rangers, through communications, public
relations, maintenance of facilities and various other duties as
agreed between the Rangers and Hosts.
In Dec - Jan 2009/10 Campground Hosts returned to Kangaroo
Island Campgrounds which had been closed following
the devastating bushfires
of 2007. Colin and June
Chandler share their story.
We arrived at Flinders Chase
on Friday afternoon and after
settling ourselves into the
designated site we returned
to the Visitor Centre (VC) for
our induction to the park
and our duties. We spent our
first day driving around the
Park to see for ourselves the
extent of the fire damage,
with eighty percent of the
Park area burnt, and was
surprised by the regrowth in
just two years.
Our duties as Campground Hosts were varied. In the late
afternoon, as the Park staff finished for the day, we set up
‘office’ at our van where we welcomed new visitors, allocated
camp sites and provided maps and any other information we
could. We issued temporary permits reminding campers to
return to the VC the following morning to pay their fees and
receive the correct permit for their visit. After returning the
books to park staff in the morning the day was then our own.
With the day to ourselves and having done the ‘tourist thing’
before, we offered our help to the staff. The cleaning crew
jumped at the opportunity, as the Christmas period is very
busy. We took on the daily cleaning of barbecue areas as well
as the campground toilet and shower block. At our work rate
- and with morning tea breaks - this took us until lunchtime.
One very enjoyable task was
to take a couple of Rangers
from the Canary Islands
out along the platypus
walk. This area was badly
damaged by the fires and
only one viewing platform
remained. The walk was
an excellent example of
regeneration and we were
able to show our visitors the
cycle of many plants. Our
Spanish was far worse than
their English, but we all had
fun and learned a lot.
We enjoyed our hosting,
met some very interesting people, and came away with
many a story of first time campers, newly engaged campers,
unprepared campers and so on. More information: 08 8124
4841 or email lyn.newman@sa.gov.au
VSA&NT CEO On New Council To Cut Red Tape For
Not-For-Profit Sector
Minister for Social Inclusion Tanya Plibersek has announced the composition of the Federal Government’s Not-for-Profit
Sector Reform Council.
The council will help drive the government’s plans to reform the sector including
cutting red tape and demonstrates the government’s ongoing commitment to the notfor-profit
sector.
Ms Plibersek said the council will examine the scope of a national one-stop shop regulator, provide advice on streamlining
tendering and contracting processes for government funded not-for-profits and consider harmonisation of federal, state
and territory laws on fundraising.
The council will be chaired by Linda Lavarch from the Australian Centre of Philanthropic and Non-profit studies, and will
include a list of eminent figures from the not-for-profit sector, including Volunteering SA&NT CEO Evelyn O’Loughlin.
Commenting on her selection to the council, Ms O’Loughlin said: “As the only South Australian on the Council, I look
forward to supporting this outstanding initiative and pursuing my interest in implementing regulatory reform across the
not-for-profit sector, particularly from the perspective of volunteer involving organisations.”
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