This year, volunteers from such facilities and community centres as the Regional Art Gallery, the Regional Theatre, Pioneer Park Museum, the Regional Leisure and Aquatic Centre, Visitor Information Centre, State Emergency Services (SES), and Bupa were invited to indulge in coffee, cakes, tea, and sandwiches as a thank you for their services.

Table after table of volunteers, each with a tea- and cake-filled belly, shared their story and passion of their volunteer work.

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The Area News got chatty with a few volunteers, who spoke about what their facility or community centre has to offer the people of Griffith.

Local Controller of the State Emergency Services (SES) Steve Mortlock said the SES is there to help people in times of need, whether it be storms, floods, or car accidents.

“We train to rescue people from hikes or death – and help people when they need to be helped.”

He said most of the volunteers have pagers and need to respond when there is a crisis.

“When an emergency comes out – if it’s a rescue the pagers go off, if it’s a storm call two phones go off, then we evaluate it and how many people have to turn up.

“You have to appreciate people work for employers, and you’re taking them away from their work.”

Mr Mortlock has this message for the people of Griffith: “If you want to become a volunteer, come and join the local SES unit.”

He said the SES is currently building a training facility for the region and there will soon be a grand opening.

Bupa Aged Care Griffith volunteer Mary Mogliotti said she wasn’t looking for recognition.

“We don’t do this for recognition, we do it for satisfaction – the satisfaction that we get; a smile and a thank you is all that you do it for,” Mrs Mogliotti said.

She said she and her husband volunteer once a week at the Aged Care facility to play card games, chat with the residents, and take them out for walks.

“We do whatever we can to help,” she said.

“We come away feeling we’ve made a difference.”

She said they’re always happy to help, and would like to see more volunteers come by to help.

“We love doing it – making a difference to somebody’s life, even just for a few minutes, is all the satisfaction that we look for.”

She said people help because “it’s in their nature”.

Pioneer Park, the little piece of Griffith history, always needs volunteers to help the facility thrive.

Alan and Lyn Power both volunteer their time to help out in the kitchen.

“We do most of the cooking,” Mr Power said

“It’s something we look forward to.”

He said it’s important for people to visit Pioneer Park to learn about Griffith’s history.

“It’s all about Griffith’s past – there’s a lot of stuff to look at, from clothes to machinery.”

Mr Power echoed his counterparts’ messages and said Pioneer Park always needs volunteers to help out.

“We’d like to see more youths taking part.”

The morning tea was hosted by Griffith City Council.

For 20 years volunteers have been celebrated at the annual Volunteers’ Morning Tea events.