Volunteers Lester and Wendy say everyone should have a go at being an Outback Links Volunteer.

“Don’t be afraid to have a go even if you don’t have farm skills,” says Wendy.

“People in the bush have all got a garden, they’ve all got houses that need painting, they’ve all got a freezer that needs filling up with food. An Outback Links Volunteer can help with any of those.”

It’s the human connection provided by Outback Links Volunteers

Wendy says that although the job request is often for a fence or help with machinery, it’s the human connection that makes the most difference.

“One property we went to, Lester and the property owner stood on the veranda for two days drinking coffee because that was his greatest need. The owner just needed some man chat. They had a huge list of projects they wanted done, but first things come first.”

“The listening ear is a big factor for both men and women,” says Wendy. “Women in the bush need a listening ear and a lot of moral support.”

Lester adds, “By the third day with a family, I often ask Wendy, ‘Have you made her cry yet?’ It’s because Wendy gives them a chance to talk to unburden and have a cry.”

That’s not to say it’s all talk.

Lester recently helped put in a long exclusion fence. “Just one side was 4.3km long, with eight-foot star pickets every five or six metres.

“It took us weeks, and even then we went back later to keep going. It felt like a real achievement.

“I always say, if they cry when we leave, we’ve done a good job.”

Become and Outback Links volunteer today! Outback Links volunteers bring hope by showing up and showing they care. If you are ready to take part in a life-changing, meaningful experience, become a volunteer today.