Volunteers are the backbone of our triathlon community.
And this National Volunteer Week we’re celebrating the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly whether it’s helping with registrations, manning the fuel stations, reviewing grant applications or joining the committee. There’s no job that’s too small or too big for volunteers.
Just ask, Ballarat Triathlon Club president, Caroline who shared her journey into volunteering and how her love for triathlon has evolved over the years.
“Well, my son fell into doing triathlons through someone that was already at the club. From their conversation and chatting with my son, Ballarat Tri Club was the place to go,” she said.
“He wanted to do triathlons and we’re crazy parents and do anything we can, like most parents, and I’ve ended up in the committee role because I’m supporting my sons love of triathlons.”
“I feel like we all work together so well. We bounce off each other and pick up where others can’t do things. It’s just open communication and a friendly environment.”
“It’s a team effort to run a volunteer club. Everybody’s input is so important and the more the merrier. We can’t get enough help there is always something to do. So any volunteer input is immensely appreciated,” she said.
It doesn’t matter your age, availability or experience, volunteering is for everyone. And in fact, having that added level of diversity ensures that the club caters for the needs of their entire sporting community.
“I think having a range of generations on the committee helps out because the younger ones are bit better with IT sometimes and the older ones might do more in the physical sense, and then others like me might not have so much paid work,” Caroline explained.
Volunteering is an ongoing process; it’s about finding the next cohort of people who are going to step up and help out to keep the heartbeat of the sport pumping.
“It really came down to if I didn’t go on the committee and volunteer so many hours, I felt like the club might not exist, like they definitely need people to volunteer. It’s just not going to be there.”
“That’s why we ended up volunteering so much and then we encourage others to keep doing that. And we’re now looking at the next volunteer group to come on for next season.”
“If you want to keep this great sport going on in Ballarat, we just need these great, generous people.”
The Ballarat run events are small but mighty with up to 40 volunteers helping out on major race days to create a seamless event for the athletes competing – whether it’s their first or tenth time. And although results are important to some, the overarching theme for Caroline is to promote a healthy lifestyle and create an opportunity for members of the Ballarat community to get active and engage with others.
“Getting off screens and being physical and healthy in the outdoors, in the environment is just so good to see. And when people put so much effort into training, it’s nice to hold an event they can push themselves.”
“But we’re also a very non stressful environment compared to the Melbourne events. We get a lot of feedback to our club that it’s nice to hold an event that stress free even though we have transition and timing systems.”
But when it all boils down to the why, the reason is simple. Volunteering is more than just running an event, putting in the man hours to organise grants, fundraisers, hand out waters. It’s the smiles at the end of the race, the elation and success.
“Go for it and do it.”
“It’s so rewarding to see the aftermath of all the time and effort you put in, you see it on the day when they’re at the event, the fun that they’ve experienced in that moment.”
“Then afterwards all the endorphins are going. And they’re all happy and you were part of that. You put on it on the event for them to go to. So that, that was beautiful.”
If you want to learn more about Ballarat Triathlon Club.
Add your story to the ASC Volunteer Map here.
