Among these individuals is Maxine Schumann, whose commitment to volunteering at the Kyabram Town Hall Gallery helps ensure its doors stay open for all to enjoy.
Her volunteering journey with the hall began about 10 years ago at the service desk, where she gradually took on more responsibilities, serving as president before her current role as vice-president.
But her commitment to community service doesn’t stop there, having been a member of Shepparton Red Cross for 30 years.
For Ms Schumann, volunteering provides a reason to get out of bed in the morning.
“I think as you get older, you’ve definitely got to have a reason to,” she said.
“It’s amazing how you get up in the morning, and you don’t feel very well, but you’ve got to come up here, and then you get talking to people, and you feel so much better.”
In regional areas like Kyabram, many facilities, including the town hall, depend entirely on the generous contribution of volunteers to remain operational.
“There’s certainly an enormous need for volunteers,” Ms Schumann said.
“If we weren’t volunteering, it would close up.”
Ms Schumann said it was wonderful to see so many younger faces helping out with the town’s 150th anniversary celebrations, and she encouraged anyone, especially those feeling bored or lonely, to think about volunteering.
“It’s good for your health. It’s good for your mental capacity,” she said.
“I just think volunteering is a necessary thing for (the) community, but it’s a necessary thing for the individual person.”
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