May 1 - 31, 2026: Issue 654

 

National Volunteers Week 2026: Make This your Year to Volunteer in Your Community

Photo: AJG/PON

Volunteers across the area are being celebrated during National Volunteer Week from 18–24 May, recognising the people who quietly keep communities connected, supported and strong.

This year’s theme, Your Year to Volunteer, encourages people to get involved in ways that fit their lives, whether that’s lending a hand once a week or just a few times a year.

The celebrations begin as the United Nations prepares to mark 2026 as the International Volunteer Year, highlighting the important role volunteers play in building stronger and more inclusive communities around the world.

Across the NBC LGA, more than 900 registered council volunteers support local services including libraries, environment centres and the Manly Visitor Information Centre, alongside the many thousands of volunteers involved in sporting clubs, community groups, charities and emergency services.

Mayor Sue Heins said volunteers are at the heart of community life.

“Volunteers help make this the connected and caring community it is,” Mayor Heins said.

“Whether it’s the emergency service volunteers who step up in times of crisis, the people supporting vulnerable residents, or those helping protect our environment and local culture, volunteers make a real difference every day.

“Volunteering is also a great way to meet people, learn new skills and feel part of something bigger. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who gives their time to help others.”

Council continues to work with local organisations to support volunteering and encourage more people to get involved in the community.

For more information about volunteering opportunities, visit the council's website.

You may be a Caregiver, Guardian through your local Residents Association, Sports club coach or canteen person, a Nature restorer and Bushcarer, Wildlife Rescuer and Carer, a Rotary or Probus club member, Surf Lifesaver, SES, RFS or Marine Rescue member, Zonta girl, P and C Member at your local school, cleaner of beaches and waterways, race official at any of the numerous regattas on Pittwater by all our local sailing clubs, a communicator on Radio Northern Beaches or a Speaker at U3A, a collator of data with Living Ocean, a defender of bush, heritage or waves beside Surfrider Northern Beaches or Manly or join the Pittwater Natural Heritage Association, or your local Residents Association or a combination of these!

This week-long event recognises the vital support that the millions of volunteers in our country provide to their communities and encourages people to consider volunteering. National Volunteer Week 2026 is a celebration of our volunteers' power to drive change and ensure volunteering is inclusive of all members of the Australian community.

The late great Harvey Rose OAM once said, when Mayor of Pittwater, that this area had the highest incidence of volunteers across the state. He was proud of how this community builds community and so many, young and old, come together to make a difference to the social, cultural and environmental aspects of our community.

In Pittwater the greatest number of volunteers are associated with looking after others through organisations such as Marine Rescue, the NSW RFS and SES, or are involved in bushcare, surf lifesaving, sailing and summer and winter sports.

With almost 190,000 members across the country, Surf Life Saving Australia is the largest volunteer movement of its kind in the world, with volunteer surf lifesavers contributing more than 1.3 million patrol hours every year. 

Every year there are more than 500 million beach visitations to Australia’s coastline, with volunteers from all backgrounds, ages and cultures forming part of the red and yellow army that keep watch over the beaches. 

This coming week communities across NSW are also encouraged to wear orange to show their appreciation for NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) volunteers.  Wear Orange Wednesday, otherwise known as WOW Day, is celebrated on Wednesday May 20 in 2026, which falls during National Volunteer Week. 

Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib, said WOW Day gives the wider community the opportunity to acknowledge those who give up their time to serve others. 

“We all know, love and respect the work of our SES volunteers, through storms and floods they are always there. Selflessly looking out for all of us and doing so without asking for thanks or praise,” Mr Dib said. 

“Wearing orange this Wednesday 20 May is one small way to show your support for our amazing volunteers.”  

For more information about how to get involved in WOW Day, visit www.wowday.com.au  



So if you want to get involved in building a great community and meet like-minded people who share the same passions as you, contact your local RFS or SES and find out how to get involved - join your local bushcare group, join Sydney Wildlife or WIRES, become a team player in whatever sports you like or join your local surf, sailing or social club and see what a difference 'giving back' makes to your community and to your good self as well.

You will learn new skills
You will meet great people
You will be doing something you care about
You will become a change maker in your community

Make 2026 the year you give a few hours each month to make the change you want to be a part of be realised.

These Profiles give you an overview of just some of what's available locally; there is much much more  - the Bushcare roster for Pittwater runs underneath these:Residents Associations


Sports (plus Social Members)

Gardens and Environment

Rural Fire Brigades
Services - Community Organisations

Arts and Social

Bushcare In Pittwater 

For further information or to confirm the meeting details for below groups, please contact Council's Bushcare Officer on 9970 1367 or visit Council's bushcare webpage to find out how you can get involved.

BUSHCARE SCHEDULES 
Where we work                      Which day                              What time 

Avalon     
Angophora Reserve             3rd Sunday                         8:30 - 11:30am 
Avalon Dunes                        1st Sunday                         8:30 - 11:30am 
Avalon Golf Course              2nd Wednesday                 3 - 5:30pm 
Careel Creek                         4th Saturday                      8:30 - 11:30am 
Toongari Reserve                 3rd Saturday                      9 - 12noon (8 - 11am in summer) 
Bangalley Headland            2nd Sunday                         9 to 12noon 

Bayview     
Winnererremy Bay                 4th Sunday                        9 to 12noon 

Bilgola     
North Bilgola Beach              3rd Monday                        9 - 12noon 
Algona Reserve                     1st Saturday                       9 - 12noon 
Plateau Park                          1st Friday                            8:30 - 11:30am 

Church Point     
Browns Bay Reserve             1st Tuesday                        9 - 12noon 
McCarrs Creek Reserve       Contact Bushcare Officer     To be confirmed 

Clareville     
Old Wharf Reserve                 3rd Saturday                      8 - 11am 

Elanora     
Kundibah Reserve                   4th Sunday                       8:30 - 11:30am 

Mona Vale     
Mona Vale Beach Basin          1st Saturday                    8 - 11am 
Mona Vale Dunes                     2nd Saturday +3rd Thursday     8:30 - 11:30am 

Newport     
Bungan Beach                          4th Sunday                      9 - 12noon 
Crescent Reserve                    3rd Sunday                      9 - 12noon 
North Newport Beach              4th Saturday                    8:30 - 11:30am 
Porter Reserve                          2nd Saturday                  8 - 11am 

North Narrabeen     
Irrawong Reserve                     2nd Saturday                   2 - 5pm 

Palm Beach     
North Palm Beach Dunes      3rd Saturday                    9 - 12noon 

Scotland Island     
Catherine Park                          2nd Sunday                     10 - 12:30pm 
Elizabeth Park                           1st Saturday                      9 - 12noon 
Pathilda Reserve                      3rd Saturday                      9 - 12noon 

Warriewood     
Warriewood Wetlands             1st Sunday                         8:30 - 11:30am 

Whale Beach     
Norma Park                               1st Friday                            9 - 12noon 

Western Foreshores     
Coopers Point, Elvina Bay      2nd Sunday                        10 - 1pm 
Rocky Point, Elvina Bay           1st Monday                          9 - 12noon

Friends Of Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment Activities

Bush Regeneration - Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment  
This is a wonderful way to become connected to nature and contribute to the health of the environment.  Over the weeks and months you can see positive changes as you give native species a better chance to thrive.  Wildlife appreciate the improvement in their habitat.

Belrose area - Thursday mornings 
Belrose area - Weekend mornings by arrangement
Contact: Phone or text Conny Harris on 0432 643 295

Wheeler Creek - Wednesday mornings 9-11am
Contact: Phone or text Judith Bennett on 0402 974 105
Or email: Friends of Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment : email@narrabeenlagoon.org.au

Gardens And Environment Groups And Organisations In Pittwater



Photo: AJG/PON

NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards 2026 Nominations now Open

The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards, hosted by The Centre for Volunteering, are an annual celebration of volunteering in NSW. 

There are 7 categories for the Awards. These include:
  • Young Volunteer of the Year 24 years and under
  • Adult Volunteer of the Year 25 to 64 years
  • Senior Volunteer of the Year 65 years and over
  • Volunteer Team of the Year Two individuals or over
  • Emergency Volunteer of the Year An individual or teams volunteering in emergency prevention, preparation, response, or recovery efforts.
  • Volunteer Leader of the Year A designated volunteer manager, a team of volunteer managers or a registered not-for-profit organisation
  • Not-for-Profit Voluntary Governance Award An unpaid board of directors or individual board member, who exemplifies excellence in governance
The nomination form allows for two types of recognition for the volunteers of NSW. 

Nomination for Recognition  
This is the simplest way to acknowledge volunteers.  These nominations will not be judged; however, the nominee will be invited to their local regional ceremony (if their personal email address is provided, not the organisation’s or nominator’s email address).  The nominee will be presented with a certificate to acknowledge their contribution to the community.  This nomination requires you to complete four parts of the nomination form only. 

Nomination for Judging 
These nominees will be judged for the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards in their appropriate category.  This nomination requires nominators to complete six parts (parts 1 to 6), all of which must be completed to be accepted by the judging committee. To be included in Judging, the nominee’s personal email address MUST be provided (ie. not the organisation’s or nominator’s email address). If this is not provided, the nomination will be moved into the Recognition section of the Awards.

Nominations are open until Friday 29 May 2026.