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My friend Richard Adams from Dymocks in Lismore has been a staunch member of LIONS for many years. He was given an accolade over the weekend for the work he and the club achieve in raising thousands of dollars each year for the community. But now it seems most members of community groups, LIONS, Rotary, the Salvation Army, SES, the CWA, the Red Cross, Volunteer Fire Fighters, etc., are ageing. When an SES volunteer climbs onto your roof to throw on a tarp after a storm, he's often in his 60s and 70s.
Where are the young ones coming up to replace them?
There seems to be a pervasive attitude that " they", be it government/council/someone else, will do it. Young people say they're time poor. Lifestyle, economics, seem to be such that no-one who has to earn a living, raise a family, look after ageing parents, have a social life, has time to give to anything else.
How do we address this? A good start is being made in some schools who run fundraising programs to help their community. But raising awareness and teaching children about helping others, finding funds for projects themselves should be part of the schooling process. And frankly the idea of community service should start in the home. I grew up with a grandmother who worked for the Red Cross, my grandfather and uncles were scout leaders, my parents did their bit for local causes and the environment, helped neighbours, shared our bounty be it fruit or vegies from the garden, a good catch of fish, or a chance to hand out some hard earned cash to a worthy cause. And we were not alone or special. It's how it was. If we don't help each other no-one else will. Now the hand out mentality prevails. Stop waiting for "them" to fix things. Giving and helping is rewarding in many ways. (Crikey I'm sounding like my mother.) Those who've inherited the good life, even with all the looming disasters, need to take a turn to step up, reach out and give back.
Cheers
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