On Tuesday we celebrated our volunteers who donate many hours to the College on a regular basis throughout 2019. I know that there are many others of you who help out when you can and we appreciate your time also. However, we are simply unable to cater for everyone so we exported all the names from our sign in register in Main Admin and added up the hours to give us a shortlist of people to thank with a high tea and with a small gift.

When I think about the commitment and dedication of our volunteers, I know that nice food and a small gift are completely inadequate to express our gratitude. There is no way we could repay all of our volunteers for everything they do and give to the College.

In this day and age, it is more difficult than ever to find time to volunteer but the advantages are huge. There is the obvious benefit of improving the educational journey of your child but volunteering also helps your mental and physical health; volunteering actually increases happiness in those who volunteer.

An article by Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. and Lawrence Robinson on HelpGuide states, “(volunteering can) reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and provide a sense of purpose.” The article goes on to say, “While it’s true that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have to involve a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day.”

This is very true when it comes to volunteering at GCC. Helping once a week in a reading group or in the library may only take an hour or two but the benefits to our students and the volunteers are huge.

Thanks to all of our volunteers on the P and F Committee, the College is being presented with a gift of $60,000 towards a complete makeover of the old Primary playground. This money was raised by volunteers helping out at Mother’s and Father’s Day stalls, supporting the Trivia Nights, assisting at the Primary Discos and much more. The new playground is going to make a huge difference to arguably the most used space in the whole College. Imagine the joy on the students’ faces when they see a whole new playground!

For those who work during school hours but want to volunteer, there is a multitude of opportunities. Our P and F meet once a month after school hours and being on the committee, sharing ideas and performing small jobs helps the whole team be more effective.

In the lead up to Funfest 2020, there are many small and large jobs that can be done outside of school hours and will be a huge help in making the event a big success. Email [email protected] if you would like more information.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the P and F and all of our volunteers who give so generously to GCC. I hope the happiness you bring to our students and College is multiplied many times over in bringing extra joy to your life.

Mike Curtis, Principal