Plunket volunteers' hard work noted

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 679, 25 March 1997, Page 7

Plunket volunteers' hard work noted

The job require ments are re sourcefulness, community mindedness, team spirit and a willingness to take on hard work. Hours are variable, sometimes long. Remuneration: nil. That's the package offered to volunteers, and despite the obvious demands and lack of monetary reward - it's a role that still attracts more than 10,000 people into Plunket' s ranks. Last week Plunket honoured the legion of workers whose efforts ensure that families in almost every community across New Zealand are able to access Plunket services. Plunket national president Dianne Armstrong says people continue to be drawn to the volunteer role because of their own conviction that Plunket provides an essential service to families. "All of our volunteers have at some time been clients of Plunket's well child health services. They've known for themselves what it means to have the support of trained care delivery staff

and links with other parents, when their children are young." Volunteers' commitment is crucial to Plunket's ongoing survival. Working in committees, with backup support from other members in 650 branches and sub branches, the volunteers fundraise to pay most of the costs of providing and maintaining clinics, equipment for staff and vehicle run- . ning costs. Regional Health Authorities pay for staff salaries and administration costs. Volunteers also raise funds for additional services in their communities and for national programmes such as the 0800 Plunket Line. Mrs Armstrong says while small traditional fundraisers such as cake stalls and raffles still play their part, many Plunket committees are now involved in organising a major annual event, in order to generate a substantial profit in one hit. Art shows, golf tournaments, garden parties and celebrity entertainment are among the range of

fundraising projects that take place around the country, many generating several thousand dollars a time. "Many volunteers are involved in coordinating high level event management, and utilising a range of skills. Their running of Plunket's annual appeal in their own communities also

requires a great deal of organisational expertise." Volunteers also run some of Plunket's educational courses, including parenting skills and health care courses, as well as running play groups and coffee mornings for local parents and their children. They play a key role in

child safety, through education, advocacy and spending many hours in the administration and operation of Plunket's car seat rental scheme. Volunteers are also largely responsible for the coordination of the Tots and Toddlers programme - a Plunket education programme run in high schools.