Volunteers in regional communities are vital, and the dedicated people who make Sailability possible in Port Macquarie bring joy to so many right across the Mid North Coast.
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Wayne Evans and Lynn Gerrard are one of the longest serving and newest volunteers, respectively, but both say they enjoy the work as much as the people they help.
“Originally I decided to join Sailability because I had sailed and love sailing, and have been very supportive of local volunteer organisations,” Mr Evans said.
“I had been indirectly involved early because I was still working but continued in a larger capacity after I retired because I love helping people.
“It is a joy to come and see people who need some assistance appreciate the help and get so much joy from it.”
During his time with the organisation, Mr Evans said that he has seen great changes both with the people they help and the functions of the group.
“In my time I have seen some remarkable changes in people, some, who when they first arrived sat of the floor and didn't move, now can’t get in a boat fast enough,” he said.
“It really is like a big family.
“We have grown and are continuing to grow as fast as we can to accommodate as many people as possible.”
Sailability is a fully volunteer organisation, currently with 74 volunteers in Port Macquarie who, during the summer months, every Wednesday morning, takes up to 60 clients for a sail.
“Our volunteers, myself included love spend their time helping those who have a disability access the water, and while people say we do a great thing for the community, to be honest us as volunteers get as much out of the experience as those we take on the water,” he said.
“We have people from nine to 94 years of age who have all types of disabilities and problems and when we take them out we see the joy on their faces and it makes what we do worth it.”
People regularly come from as far as Taree and Kempsey, and include students from special support units at schools, Aged care facilities, various disability organisations and numerous independent clients.
New volunteer, Lynn Gerrard signed up to help Sailability in January and said that anyone with a passion to help people can volunteer.
“I only started volunteering from the start of the year and before then I didn’t even knew it existed,” Ms Gerrard said.
“One day I went to lunch with a friend and they asked me what I did on a Wednesday and after a said not much they invited me to come down and see what it was all about.
“I wasn’t a sailor before and I am still not a sailor, but I enjoy helping people and even in the short amount of time I have been here everyone has been so welcoming and lovely.”
Ms Gerrard said that she will definitely continue her work with Sailability and encourages others to consider joining.
“When I first came down people here were wonderful, there are people who have been here for a number of years and we were slotted into a team and I haven’t looked back.
“I am a loader which means I help assist people getting into and off the boats and to see the excitement when people get on the boats is really amazing.”