Thank You, Volunteers!
Volunteers who dedicate their time and efforts to Paralympic sport-what would the
Paralympic Movement do without them. At the Paralympic Games Sydney 2000, more than 11,000
volunteers will be helping out in areas such as medical services, protocol, NPC services
and communications. Paul Griffiths, IPC Director of Event Protocol and Media, had a chance
to catch up with four of them.
Finnish Grandma's "G'Day" Welcomes Athletes to Sydney
2000
A Finnish grandmother who emigrated to Australia in 1963 with her British husband will
be among more than 11,000 volunteers working for the Paralympic Games.
"This (Australia) is our country now, but I can't wait to welcome the team from
Finland and work with them in the Paralympic Village," says Telma Martin, who 'put
her name down' when she saw the first advertisement by SPOC seeking volunteers for the
Games. That was almost four years ago and since then the Sydney Paralympic Organising
Committee has amassed 11,400 volunteers who will work in all facets of the Sydney Games.
Telma's son, father of one of her eight grandchildren, will be another of the SPOC
volunteers, working with the St. John's Ambulance brigade. Telma has worked in the SPOC
office since last year, having been initially inspired at the Sydney Town Hall recruiting
session by a speech from SPOC Chief Executive Officer Lois Appleby.
"Lois showed us a video and really motivated us," says Telma. "From that
moment, I knew I would be there." She has worked sometimes three days a week, helping
to distribute thousands of mailouts and training manuals to other volunteers.
With a nursing background, for the past 15 years Telma Martin has worked in a northern
Sydney nursing home, but time out for the Paralympic Games is the tonic she was looking
for. "I'm just so proud of this country because of my (Finnish) background and
working as a volunteer gives me so much satisfaction. I can't wait for the Games to
begin!"
Genuine Commitment of SPOC
Professional cut-flower grower Trish Forsyth found the Paralympic ideals irresistible.
Having helped with the flowers for the Olympics, Trish will be part of the protocol team
at the Paralympic Family Hotel, the Wentworth, in the City of Sydney during the Games.
"Fantastic - but it's a pretty bland word to use. The people I've met (within SPOC)
are genuinely committed to having a great event," says Trish. "The sports men
and women I've met have worked just so hard…I have the greatest respect for them -
they're absolutely amazing."
Like Telma Martin, Trish has spent past weeks helping to distribute training manuals and
standing orders to the army of Paralympic volunteers.
Taking a Lot Back Home
Backpacker Melanie Rodriguez from London has been using her skills as a disabled sports
administrator to assist the SPOC NPC services staff in Sydney.
"It's been very challenging," says Melanie, "But the commitment amongst the
SPOC people behind the scenes has spurred us on."
"It was great of my organization in the UK (the England Federation of Disabled
Sports) to give me a year off to come to Sydney to do this - and I'll certainly be taking
a lot back to them in return."
Melanie has learned about the need for the huge number of volunteers, their training, the
management of so many people - and maximizing their commitment.
"I think also, that SPOC's recruitment policy has had a great effect. Often in sport,
we get the same sort of people running events but SPOC is made up of so many people with
very diverse backgrounds and experience."
SPOC has ensured that people have been chosen for their skills and so they go through
processes differently. "We've had some brilliant ideas as a result and I've learned a
lot about staff selection for the very different jobs that need to be done."
And - she's been selected by the Great Britain team to act as their NPC liaison officer -
credit for a job well done - and where experience counts.
Photo: SPOC |
Never Another Bad Day
Amongst the many volunteers who are working for both the Olympics and Paralympics are
husband and wife team Rob and Pam Callaghan. They're "pioneer volunteers",
having worked with SPOC for more than four years.
"I stopped counting when I reach 1,000 hours," says Pam. "That was sometime
last year!" Pam has been working (with other "busy bees") in the
communications center known as The Hive.
"I've become just so passionate about the Paralympics. By the time I've finished my
role at the Games, I don't think I'll have another bad day in my life."
Pam had retired from her job as a representative for a fashion house and, as she says,
"got bored with playing golf" when a friend told her four years ago about the
volunteer opportunity the Paralympics were offering. "It's wonderful. I get far more
out of it than ever I put into it. I've become very passionate, just like lots of others.
I just love it when the athletes laugh at themselves and say 'Don't feel sorry for me. I'm
great!'."
Pam and husband Rob are experienced managers of VIP lounges, having been volunteers in the
same role for FINA world cup swimming, the PanPacs (swimming championships), water polo
world championships, and diving and synchronized swimming world events.
When they've finished the task at the Aquatic Center for the Olympics however, they'll be
changing over to Tennis - all because of their admiration for their new-found friend,
wheelchair tennis Paralympian Tony Hall.
The Callaghans' commitment to the Paralympics has stretched well beyond the thousands of
hours of volunteer work. Pam was so keen that schoolchildren in her area should get to see
the Paralympics that she canvassed more than 30 schools. The result? More than 7,000
schoolchildren and 700 teachers will spend at least a day at the Sydney Games because of
her encouragement. |
