It’s International Volunteer Day on Monday 5 December. On the Northern Beaches, we have such a strong volunteering culture, and we’re so grateful for the contribution volunteers make to our community.

At Council alone, we have more than 800 regular volunteers who support 13 services ranging from libraries to Bushcare, Meals on Wheels and Visitor Services. We couldn’t do it without them! 

This International Volunteer Day we say a big thank you to all Northern Beaches volunteers who help to protect and support our community, not just at Council but at the many community groups, service providers and charities across the Beaches.

2022 has been a big year with many of our volunteers back in action and reconnecting with the community. There are so many great achievements to celebrate and wonderful stories to share:

• 10 year anniversary of the Friends of Cabbage Tree Bay volunteer group, serving to protect this special marine environment for future generations to come
• Over 20,000 meals delivered by the Meals on Wheels volunteer team
• 3,500 deliveries by Home Library Service volunteers
• Over 250 Tech Help volunteer visits, supporting our community to engage with the digital world
• Over 7,500 people served by Justice of the Peace volunteers
• Reopening the doors to welcome thousands of visitors to the area at the Manly Visitor Information Centre and Manly Art Gallery and Museum
• 329 Bushcare volunteers have spent over 6,000 hours restoring 60 bushland reserves and propagated thousands of native plants at our two community nurseries
• Over 100 site volunteers have carefully monitored 178 Aboriginal heritage sites providing valuable feedback to the Aboriginal Heritage Office and its partner councils to ensure the ongoing conservation and protection of these important spaces
• Volunteers placed Australian flags on over 500 veteran graves on ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day at Manly and Mona Vale cemeteries as part of the Honour the Fallen program, and tended to more than 150 overgrown graves during the year
• More than 250 event volunteers supported with operations and customer service roles at events like Sun Run and Manly Jazz.

You can find more information about volunteering opportunities in the community on our website.