Many hands make light work, and the many hands of volunteers across the region have made our region a great place to live, work and play.

Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson ushered in Volunteer Week for 2026 by recognising the efforts of local volunteers and encouraging people to give back.

“Behind every strong community is an army of volunteers carrying the load, making the region a great place to live,” Mr Anderson said.

“Volunteers make an incredible contribution. They don’t just give their time, they give communities a heartbeat by caring for, maintaining and improving the essential assets, groups and sporting teams we love.

“They clock in expecting nothing back except a wave hello and a feeling of contributing to their community. Where there’s a fundraiser, a barbecue, or a crisis, there’s probably a volunteer saying, ‘Righto, I’ll do it.’”

Mr Anderson added that many volunteer organisations are on the hunt for more people to join their ranks to ensure they can continue to contribute meaningfully.

“Volunteer organisations are the engine room of our region, but unfortunately, many are running on fumes and need more people to sign up,” Mr Anderson added.

“My message to the community this volunteer week is: Have a crack, give a bit back.” 

“Whether it’s a few hours on a Bunnings Barbecue, delivering meals to the elderly, a Sunday morning spent cleaning up the riverbank, or serving with our emergency services, it doesn’t take much to give back to the community.

“You’ve just got to have a crack, give a bit back, and help build a better region.”