Taylors Lakes volunteer Warren Hosking has carried on the torch of his father’s work at the Brimbank office of The Smith Family.
Ahead of National Volunteer Week [May 16-22], the children’s education charity has begun celebrating the significant role its volunteers have played in the charity over the past 100 years.
Mr Hosking, 67, decided to volunteer for The Smith Family due to his 96-year-old father Ted Hosking’s commitment to the organisation.
“When I retired in 2015, I felt compelled to give back to my community in Melbourne’s western suburbs,” he said.
“I chose The Smith Family because my father is a long-standing supporter of the charity and its cause.”
Mr Hosking said his father started his work with The Smith Family in the early 1980s before moving to Bendigo and taking on a volunteer administration role and now contributing financial donations to the charity.
“He used to sort through and distribute donated clothes to families in need,” he said.
“I’ve certainly got a lot of catching up to do if I want to match my father’s dedication to The Smith Family, but I’m in it for the long run.
“It’s especially fulfilling to help out at my local Learning Club and see the kids grow and achieve all of their goals.”
The Smith Family national volunteering manager Lauren Stocker said the work of the charity would not be possible without the dedication of the work of about 8000 volunteers donating more than 150,000 hours of service.
Volunteers can commit to as little as an hour a week, with a number of opportunities available to help children in need through tutoring and mentoring programs.
Details: www.thesmithfamily.com.au/get-involved/volunteer
By Matthew Sims
