Volunteering Queensland

By Natalie Martino
Volunteer Writer, Volunteering Queensland Inc August 2001

Booringa Shire is halfway between Brisbane and Longreach and, with a population of 2,200, it may be small but that doesn't mean the area is lacking culturally. Mitchell Arts Council, in conjunction with other local organisations, makes sure that community members have an opportunity to participate in cultural activities. Groups as diverse as The Retirement Village Council, Aboriginal Council, Youth Organisation, Spanish Dance Group, Painters' Group and The Choral Society, gauge what the community needs and organises activities.

These groups help to run workshops to get people involved with the arts. Volunteer Jenny Walker has just finished coordinating a photography workshop which attracted a lot of interest. This involved "importing" a professional photographer from Roma, who will assist the eight people who are participating make the most of their camera. Artistic vision will also be encouraged, as the aim of the workshop is to produce works under the theme, "A Day in the Life of Booringa Shire". Each participant will have a photo enlarged for display in the local Gallery and Library.

Jenny agreed to coordinate the workshop through Mitchell Arts Council because she feels committed to bringing cultural opportunities to her region. For the sheer "joy of it", and despite having to travel an hour from her property to help out, Jenny has volunteered on a number of projects, including bringing out a number of theatrical productions from the city.

According to Jude Roberts, coordinator of the Mitchell Arts Council, "when a job has to be done, it's not hard to find the volunteers". The very successful "Fire and Water Festival", held over a weekend in September last year to celebrate the new millennium, attracted 54 volunteers including many young people. The Youth Council, under the direction of a designated Youth Officer, had their own section of the festival to coordinate with a country rock singer being a highlight.

With such dedicated involvement from people like Jenny and Jude, it would seem the cultural future of the Booringa Shire is in good hands.