Volunteer in the Spotlight

Bill Lodge

The spirit of Volunteering is well and truly alive with Bill Lodge our Volunteer in the Spotlight for October. There are over four decades of selfless acts and generosity in Bill. Indeed, a Volunteer worthy of our praise and a shining example for all of us, that giving is definitely a great rewarding experience.

How did it all Start: Well it all happened 45 years ago when Bill became involved with soccer as an active and non active Referees Administrator with the Referees Association and Football NSW (previously the NSW Amateur Soccer Federation and NSW Federation of Soccer Clubs). Bill was also involved with ASRF from 1968 to 2009 and is still involved in some capacity as a Referee Inspector.

Why do you volunteer, what keeps you motivated: It's the pleasure and the enjoyment I get out of it. It's a part of my life

How did you get involvement with Bicycle NSW: Well that would have been 12 years ago now when Bill became involved with Bicycle NSW. "I always have fond memories of your events, that's why I keep on coming back every year."

Volunteer Roles I have been involved in:

Worker for SWMGO as pre game volunteer in the last 12 months
Blackmore's half marathon as team leader on information booths at Sydney Botanical Garden 20 September 2010
World Masters Games as Fleet Operation Assistant. Allocating jobs at various venues and VIPs to 80 volunteer drivers
Telstra 500 at Sydney Olympic Park - December 4-6 2009 as volunteer
Lions Clubs International Connection in CBD - June-July 2010 - as volunteer
Football NSW - volunteer for numerous tournaments
Anzac Day march - Parade Marshall since 2004
Royal Easter Show - Various roles since 2001
NSW Wheelchair Sports - various positions with Tennis, Oze Road Race, Disability Swimming
Pre games volunteer for the Sydney Olympics (3 ½ years prior to the games opening) various positions
Sydney Olympics 2000 - driver volunteer for the Chef De Mission, Able bodied games (Simon Clegg) and Paralympics Games (Helen Potter)
Australian Youth Olympics January 2009 - volunteer driver for various sporting ambassadors and for the delegation from Brazil
Disability Swimming - Sydney Aquatic Centre as time keeper
Carols by candlelight at Wiley Park as a volunteer
Australia Day celebrations at Gough Whitlam Park Arncliffe - again as a volunteer
Volunteer for Meals on Wheels for Bexley Community Centre and also for the Homebush/ Strathfield area
Milo Marathon - customer service
2005 Sydney New Year's Eve celebrations - volunteer
National Junior Games - Narrabeen Fitness centre for athletes with a disability
Federation Day Celebration - 1 January 2001 - various roles for the day
Royal Flying Doctors Service - selling lapel pins and badges in 2007
FIFA World Youth Championship 1981, World Cup 1988 and World Youth Cup 1993 as a Liaison Officer for all overseas media.
Special Olympics 2002 - various volunteer positions
Historical Society Open day - November 2006 at the NSW Masonic Club
Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids triathlon at Sydney Olympic Park - volunteer since 2007
Wheelchair NSW Sports Association - Tennis City and Sydney Tennis Centre at Olympic Park - various roles
Bankstown Community Service - volunteer car driver for elderly patients
St. George Community Service - various roles
Involved with the Volunteer Network for the Inner Western Sydney

So for anyone out there who wants to make their time worthwhile and make some contribution to society, I encourage you to volunteer. Volunteering makes a difference to you and to everyone you are involved with.