Thanks to all the volunteers who gave so much

BLOG: On behalf of this community, I thank all of our volunteers for their ongoing contribution to the livability of our region during 2012.

Mayor Paul Antonio. Picture: Toowoomba Regional Council

LAST week my fellow councillors and I hosted a special morning tea to thank those across our region who volunteer their time to Toowoomba Regional Council.

There were more than 350 guests present and another 400 who couldn't make it. It was a lovely morning and there was a great feeling of friendship and fun in the room.

This event got me thinking about the valuable contribution of volunteers.  So many wonderful people who are prepared to offer their time, energy and expertise to the community.

Mayor Paul Antonio. Picture: Toowoomba Regional Council

Whether it be those who volunteer at our art galleries, libraries, theatres, parks and the list goes on; or those who help at the great number of community organisations that exist within our region, volunteers really are the glue that binds our community together.

At a national level, it's heartening to know that more than one in three Australians volunteer in any given year.

Indeed, over six million Australians contribute their time to volunteering, contributing around 713 million hours of unpaid work per year and that number continues to increase,which is good news for the community.

It's also interesting to note that the value of volunteering in the Australian community is estimated at $14.6 billion to the economy each year - a startling figure.

As this year draws to a close, on behalf of this community, I thank all of our volunteers across so many groups for their ongoing contribution to the livability of our region during 2012.

Your contribution is invaluable.

Originally published as Thanks to all the volunteers who gave so much