Karen is our Community Membership Coordinator in Wagga Wagga and she loves volunteering because community organised events in townships such as Coolamon, Ganmain and Wagga Wagga play an important role in shaping the identity of these communities.
Every year Karen supports The Cancer Council’s Wagga Relay for Life. This annual event is one of Wagga’s most successful fundraising events and receives overwhelming support from the community. Karen says: “The Relay has very special meaning for me and I enjoy volunteering each year. Like thousands of others in our community I have been affected by cancer on a personal level and understand how important the Relay for Life is to so many people. It brings together people from all walks of life to support one another whilst raising funds for such a great cause.” Read more…
Posted on May 16, 2013
Community Riverina Region - NSW
Debbie is a Manager at one of our Branches in WA and she loves volunteering because it enables her to help those in the community that require assistance, especially groups that are relying on volunteers to assist and take some of the workload off their existing volunteers.
Debbie recently volunteered with Peel Riding for the Disabled and describes what she loved about this experience: “I could not believe how a small group of disabled children could bond so intensely with their horses and the joy on their faces. It was as if at that moment they were not facing any personal challenges and they were doing something that not even able-bodied individuals have attempted!” Read more…
Posted on May 16, 2013
Community Western Australia
Greg is a Senior Branch Manager in NSW and he loves volunteering because it enables him to give something back to the community and to make a difference.
Greg recently volunteered to be on the Newcastle/Lake Macquarie Relay for Life Committee to raise funds for the fight against cancer and describes what he loved about this experience: “To see the event grow each year by both the funds raised and in community participation shows that the local community is very supportive. I am glad to have played a part!”
Greg says volunteering has changed his life: “Like a lot of Australians, I sat on the sidelines and watched others give up their time and make a difference. By taking an active role, I have been able to assist in a number of areas and to see the benefits flow onto both others and myself. I have become a better, caring person.” Read more…
Posted on May 15, 2013
Community Hunter Region - NSW
For an organisation that usually specialise in hooves, saddles and reins, the arrival of a new set of wheels today at Wagga’s Riding for the Disabled (RDA) paves the way for an expansion of the much-loved group’s services.
Wagga Mutual Credit Union has presented the RDA with an eight-seater wheelchair friendly vehicle that will allow the group to transport children who otherwise could not access horse-riding and carriage driving lessons at the RDA’s arenas on Plumpton Road.
The vehicle has been purchased and converted to become wheelchair-accessible following a $30,000 grant from the Wagga Mutual Regional Fund and an additional $35,000 in financial support from RDA donors and the Wagga community.
RDA president Bev Amery has been eagerly awaiting the car’s arrival and was today presented with the keys by Peter Rutter, General Manager of Community at Wagga Mutual’s parent company Community CPS Australia. Read more…
Posted on May 15, 2013
Community Riverina Region - NSW
Rachael is a Manager at one of our Branches in NSW and she loves volunteering because it makes her feel like she is giving something back to the community.
Rachael volunteers for the Red Cross as a Tele-Cross volunteer and describes one of her favourite experiences: “One of the elderly clients eagerly awaits my daily call and our conversations often go for 10 minutes or more. She shared her life with me and was keen to get to know me. I’m not sure who actually got more out of the call, her or me, as I often found that when something happy or unusual had happened I couldn’t wait to tell her. “
Rachael says this experience has given her the opportunity to touch base with those that are lonely and often have no one else in their lives to make sure that they’re ok. Read more…
Posted on May 13, 2013
Australian Capital Territory Community
Katrina works in HR at our SA Head Office and she used to marvel at people who were able to give up their own time to commit to volunteering and wonder how they found the time. It wasn’t until she found something that she was passionate about and enjoyed doing that she was then able to understand.
Katrina is a volunteer Guide at the Adelaide Zoo and recently she had a group from Deaf Can Do. She says: “It really made me appreciate the animals in the zoo from a visual perspective and to explain about the animals in a different way. Instead of listening to the sounds, I explained why they make sounds and how they communicate using not only sound but visual stimuli as well. This group were so appreciative and at the end we both benefitted, they left with huge smiles on their faces and learnt about the animals…this is what is memorable for me!” Read more…
Posted on May 13, 2013
Community South Australia
A big Woof Woof to all of my friends at Eastwoods!
You will all be very proud of me… I commenced my formal training eight weeks ago and I have been working very hard to learn new tasks. I have been learning basic guiding skills like learning to walk in a straight line, stop at kerbs, and make left and right turns. The most difficult task I am learning is how to move around obstacles. My Guide Dog Trainer is very patient with me and I try to make sure she doesn’t bump into any obstacles. I have to concentrate very hard.
I have been on so many new adventures lately. I have been told it is very important that I visit different environments to help me with my training. I started with walks around my neighbourhood and then visited the busy streets of Unley and Norwood. I have even been to Burnside Shopping Centre – that was so much fun. Read more…
Posted on April 30, 2013
Community South Australia
Well done to Wagga Mutual’s Mobile Relationship Manager, Patrick Knagge, who recently participated in The Rotary Youth Leadership Program.
The Program’s objectives are to demonstrate Rotary’s respect and concern for youth, to provide youth training experience, to encourage continued and stronger leadership of youth and to publicly recognise the high qualities of the many young people in our community.
It is about developing leadership, cooperation, consideration, communication and confidence. It is a “kick-start” for young people aged 18-28, who have demonstrated leadership, intelligence and compassion within their local community.
The intensive week long program covered a variety of topics including team building, challenges of leadership and community involvement, as well as strategies designed to help young people reach their full potential.
Well done to all the participants!
^Karen – Community Membership Coordinator
Posted on April 18, 2013
Community Riverina Region - NSW
At a Mayoral Reception held in November, the Wagga Women’s Health Centre launched their fundraising campaign aimed at raising $800K to secure a new building to accommodate the Centre by 2016.
The Centre provides a valuable support service to our community and helps more than 3,500 women and children deal with issues such as domestic violence, sexual abuse and homelessness.
Wagga Mutual enjoys a strong community partnership with The Centre and was pleased to support the fundraising campaign by providing a $5K sponsorship for their recent Celebrating Women Gala Concert.
The concert was hosted by TV personality and White Ribbon Foundation Chairman, Andrew O’Keefe and was attended by hundreds of supporters who enjoyed an evening of entertainment which included an array of local talent and performances by Golden Guitar winner, Tamara Stewart and Andrew O’Keefe. Read more…
Posted on April 17, 2013
Community Riverina Region - NSW
Wagga Mutual has been the major sponsor of Wagga Wagga Takes Two since 2009 and we are proud to continue our support of such a successful fundraising event which has injected more than $500,000 into our community.
Wagga Wagga Takes Two is a unique charity event that partners 12 of Wagga’s best entertainers with 12 local celebrities, together they perform to create a very special night of entertainment and to raise funds for the celebrities chosen charity. Read more…
Posted on April 16, 2013
Community Riverina Region - NSW
Charity of Choice is an initiative of our Community Program where each department and branch, choose a not for profit organisation or community group of their choice to support for a certain period.
During this period, teams raise funds and awareness for their chosen charity group through casual days and other fundraising activities. The objective of this initiative is to engage staff, members and the general public to raise awareness of the charity or organisation in your local area!
From October to January our Sefton Plaza branch chose to support SA Dog Rescue as one of our staff members, Amanda Powell, is a passionate supporter of their work to rescue dogs and cats and find them good homes in the community.
The Sefton Plaza branch managed to raise $700 for the charity through raffles and a ‘guess how many lollies in the jar’ competition, as well as collecting donations of many items such as food and toys. Read more…
Posted on April 3, 2013
Community South Australia
Wagga Mutual is proud to be a major sponsor of the upcoming Wagga Women’s Health Centre ‘Celebrating Women’ Concert being held at Wagga Civic Theatre on Wednesday 27 March at 7:30pm.
The concert is being held to raise funds for a new $800,000 facility in the CBD of Wagga, and also build awareness for the Wagga Women’s Health Centre.
It will showcase songs by successful Australian female artists in celebration of the musical achievements of Australian women. Read more…
Posted on March 20, 2013
Community Riverina Region - NSW
Our Eastwoods team is very proud to have been able to assist Guide Dogs SA/NT in sponsoring a Guide dog (little Eastwood) to help him get the training he needs to help change lives. Here’s a snapshot of what little Eastwood has been up to with his sister sister Asha.
They’ve been doing a great job assisting Guide Dogs staff with their Bronze Paw training.
Pictured Left – Belynda with Asha and Pictured Right – Brent with Eastwood
Look forward to giving you more updates on Eastwood’s progress.
^ Michael – Eastwoods Practice Development Manager
Posted on March 8, 2013
Community South Australia
Woof Woof!
I hope all of my friends at Eastwoods had a great Christmas and Santa Paws time. I had so much fun playing with all of my friends and helping to open all of the presents. Christmas is so much fun!
I am now 15 months old and the biggest dog on the puppy program. My big news is I have moved out of my Puppy Raiser’s home as I will be starting my Guide Dog training soon. Read more…
Posted on March 8, 2013
Community South Australia
We’ll be hosting our annual Companion Charity Golf Day in May in which all proceeds are donated to an initiative which benefits the local community. This year proceeds are being donated to St Dominic’s Centre for Hearing Impaired Children. The funds will be used to implement their ‘Brighter Future’ IT project, developing essential communication skills for student’s everyday life.
St Dominic’s supports and educates Hunter students with significant hearing loss and a subsequent delay in language. The school is committed to nurturing the essential communication skills each student requires for a quality life in the community and the use of technology is a vital component in achieving this goal.
It’s the third year of our golf day and we hope to raise the $15,000 required to fully fund this worthwhile project. Read more…
Posted on February 26, 2013
Community Hunter Region - NSW
Karen is our Community Membership Coordinator in Wagga Wagga and she loves volunteering because community organised events in townships such as Coolamon, Ganmain and Wagga Wagga play an important role in shaping the identity of these communities.
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