These are our superheroes.
We’d like you to meet these amazing humans.
They are very special to us, and we’re sure you will enjoy getting to know them too.
If you would like to join the team and volunteer with us, contact us now.
Volunteering: there’s something for everyone.
Make a cuppa and have a look how people just like you made the decision to support us in their own special way.
Thanks to Volunteering WA and Lotterywest, we have been able to record and share the stories of our volunteer super heroes so the everyone can appreciate them as much as we do.
Video Stories.
Supported through Lotterywest/VolunteeringWA funding for National Volunteer Week 2024. Something For Everyone.
Penned Stories.
Supported through Lotterywest / VolunteeringWA funding for National Volunteer Week 2024. Something For Everyone.
Cody’s Story
Cody Pope
Chairperson
Paddle WA Slalom Discipline Committee
Volunteer Superstar
How long have you been volunteering with us? About 16 years now.
Why did you/what made you start volunteering? We had a big intake of kids into the sport in 2008 and needed people to coach them. A few of us started coaching the next level down and it just took off from there.
Why did you/what made you start volunteering? We had a big intake of kids into the sport in 2008 and needed people to coach them. A few of us started coaching the next level down and it just took off from there.
How does volunteering fit into your lifestyle? The joy in seeing people learn a new skill or achieve a long term goal. Doesn’t matter if it’s someone’s first roll or making a national team it gives you a sense of pride than you’ve been part of their journey.
What is a favourite volunteering memory? Would have to be taking a group of junior AKC paddlers to a Penrith camp, some for the first time. It was a great weekend and showed how much the community comes together to help each other.
How does volunteering fit into your lifestyle? The coaching side can be a bit tricky to fit in around my shift work, thankfully the community is flexible and allows me to alter my commitments on a weekly basis.
Doug’s Story
Doug Hodson
Chairperson
Paddle WA Marathon Discipline Committee
Volunteer Legend
How long have you been volunteering with us? I started to volunteer in the Perth kayaking community in 2015. I had been paddling for 2-1/2 years at that stage.
Why did you/what made you start volunteering? I was at an Ascot Club meeting and the President at the time said that if she didn’t get Race Directors for City Lights and John Sims for the following year she was going to “knock them on the head” [to use her words]. I thought: “That wouldn’t be right, these are important races, I should stick my hand up”. I volunteered for City Lights because I didn’t think I was ever going to paddle in it 😀
What benefits do you get out of volunteering? The volunteering I do is mostly event management & marketing with a little bit of work [like timing] at the actual events from time to time. I like it for a few reasons:
- Setting up the event management involves some computer and software management skills which are quite stimulating
- The challenges and the work involved in paddling event management are an enjoyable way to spend time in retirement
- Delivering the events is satisfying as one gets the pleasure of having given other people pleasure
- One makes friends and socialises in an agreeable environment with people of all ages and backgrounds
- Working with teams of people is fantastic fun, bouncing ideas off each other, getting out of sticky situations
- The marketing is performed with the objective of attracting people to events, an enjoyable challenge
- What is a favourite volunteering memory? Looking around at the set-up we created for the 2019 National Marathon Championships. That was a good memory but just having laughs with the rest of the community at the actual events is as much fun as anything.
How does volunteering fit into your lifestyle? I have made it one of the elements [amongst others] in my retired lifestyle. I consider myself lucky to be working in an activity that offers short-term stimulating projects to work on with teams of like-minded people.
Rob’s Story
Rob Riggir
Coordinator
Perth Whitewater Centre
Volunteering Legend
How long have you been volunteering with us? since 2014
Why did you/what made you start volunteering? to help out
What benefits do you get out of volunteering? good fun
What is a favourite volunteering memory? organising wild water races
How does volunteering fit into your lifestyle? no total commitment to it therefore it always fits with other things that I am doing.
