Volunteering

At a recent gathering of environmentalists in Cleveland’s Red Place it was suggested that the picking up of debris from the waters of the Quandamooka and the Bay is Council’s responsibility.

Sitting on the verandah of a dear friend who resides in West End, we talked about volunteering for community endeavour and that it is an act of citizenship. Active ‘citizenship’ is in itself a political act in defiance of the ‘client’ mindset endemic in our society. If we all were to adopt the way of thinking that ‘Someone should be paid to do this’ – be that pick up refuse, make art or deliver West End Derby, then we give away our power rather than claim power.

Volunteering in iand of itself is a way to understand our own and the identity of others, also issues facing our community and environs.