General News
22 May, 2026
Contribution of youth volunteers the highlight of shire’s thank-you event
National Volunteer Week was celebrated locally by highlighting the contributions of the region's youth.
The voice of young people, the next generation of local volunteers, was elevated and celebrated for National Volunteer Week.
Central Goldfields Shire Council and Maryborough Volunteer Resource Group (MVRG) recognised the contributions of local volunteers at a thank-you event Monday night.
Over 150 local volunteers attended but it was the young people who stood out to MVRG president Tony Macer.
“People think that young people don’t volunteer but it’s actually not true, they just do it differently,” he said.
“Young people do want to engage, they do want to contribute, and they do contribute.”
Maryborough’s Elizabeth Lewington is 19 years old and has been volunteering for almost five years between Maryborough Giants and the local Girl Guides.
“I saw my parents volunteering and all the people around me volunteering so it just made sense to continue doing it,” she said.
“All you see around you is helping by volunteering.”
She said the first step to get more young people volunteering was to recognise what they’ve already accomplished.
“So many kids put their hands up to do so many different things at school. I think if we’re encouraging that as volunteering … that’s how you get more young people involved,” she said.
Her biggest piece of advice, however, was to ask.
“Kids are looking for something to do and you’ve given them something to do,” she said.
Seventeen year old James Walsh currently volunteers with the Maryborough branches of the St John Ambulance and SES.
He also gives his time at the town’s park run.
“Helping out the community gives me a sense of pride plus makes me feel a bit better knowing it becomes a safer space for everybody,” he said.
While he said the reasons change per person generally young people are seeking experiences.
“I feel with younger volunteers they’re interested in going places, seeing stuff, learning new skills, and getting an excuse to go outside,” he said.
That’s the philosophy motivating 14-year-old Jackson Hoober, leader of the Carisbrook Lions Club’s youth faction, known as Leos, who hope to have more fun locally.
An early step in this plan was testing a drive-in cinema last week.
“We had a ball in the back of the ute,” he said.
Jackson said he’s been a volunteer for as long as he can remember — “since I could wave a flag I was helping” — but now feels he’s got more to say.
“It feels like I’m one of the adults. I can feel more powerful,” he said about the youth-led club.
“I reckon the more people that we get the more people that will come.”
Eighteen-year-old Molly Palmer volunteers with the Maryborough Netball Association and Maryborough Football Netball Club.
Her time has included being a player-coach and helping lead the NetSetGo program — which teaches the basics of netball to young kids.
“Seeing their skill level improve from start to finish is really rewarding,” she said.
“I really enjoy being a role model to younger kids in our community.”
It’s a sentiment shared by Maryborough Giants’ Elizabeth who said it’s “amazing” to foster a sense of community.
“Volunteering is how you find community and you make community within Maryborough,” she said.
Elizabeth said it’s also how you get young people to stay in town — by building connections.
“If there’s a sense of community and belonging they want to stay or they want to be coming back more often,” she said.
“I think it makes you kinder as well because normally when volunteering you see all different walks of life.”
Mr Macer encouraged the community to recognise the contributions of young people and consider their voices.
“There’s a history of older people telling young people what they should be doing and those days are gone,” he said.
“We’ve got to go into their space, give them a say, and find out what they want to do.”