During National Volunteer Week 2026, we celebrated the incredible humans who give their time, energy and heart across all of SECC’s services.
Last week, we had the very special opportunity to thank them with a lunch in their honour, a small gesture for the enormous impact they make every day. Their kindness leaves a lasting footprint across our community, and their smiles said it all.
Over the past few weeks alone, volunteers were everywhere at SECC: pouring tea and leading the choir at the Mother’s Day High Tea, supporting children at playgroup, teaching tai chi and sewing, unloading crates of donated food at The People’s Pantry, preparing lunch at The Cottage Dementia Day Centre, and serving as governors who help guide and strengthen our organisation. And this only scratches the surface. We would simply be lost without them.
At SECC, we’ve long understood that volunteering does more than strengthen our services: it strengthens people’s lives. It creates connection, builds confidence, shares skills, and offers a sense of belonging and purpose. At a time when loneliness is being felt more widely across our community, these opportunities to contribute and connect matter more than ever.
The volunteer thank you lunch brought together around 25 volunteers, from those just beginning their journey with SECC to others who have supported us for more than 25 years. A heartfelt thank you goes to Miranda, our Volunteer Manager, for organising the event and presenting certificates of appreciation to each volunteer. One especially moving moment came when a volunteer became emotional upon receiving her certificate, sharing that it was the first she had ever received in Australia.
We also extend our sincere thanks to the team at the Newmarket Hotel in Mascot for generously providing a wonderful lunch and helping make the day feel truly special.
To every volunteer who shows up, pitches in and lifts others up: thank you. We are endlessly grateful.
If you’ve ever thought about getting involved, we’d love to welcome you to the SECC volunteer team. Join us and be part of a community that makes a real difference every day.
