Curtin volunteers support local communities during John Curtin Weekend

A team of more than 190 Curtin volunteers will be travelling to regional towns and metropolitan sites across Western Australia over the next month as part of this year’s John Curtin Weekend.

Curtin Volunteers! at John Curtin Weekend
Curtin Volunteers! at John Curtin Weekend

John Curtin Weekend, which runs from September 4 to October 11, is Curtin Volunteers! largest community project and is held to honour Australia’s wartime Prime Minister, John Curtin, and demonstrate his qualities of vision, leadership and community service.

This year, volunteers will have the opportunity to visit 17 different sites across the State including the Avon Valley, Busselton, Chittering, Gingin, Merredin and Nungarin.

John Curtin Weekend Coordinator Mr Krishan Shah, from Curtin Volunteers!, said the team looked forward to lending a helping hand to local communities and organisations.

“This year has been challenging due to COVID-19 restrictions, but we are thankful that WA is in a fortunate position and we are still able to travel for this important annual project,” Mr Shah said.

“Volunteers will be put into teams and visit a range of different regions helping with maintenance work including repairing fences, painting, building enclosures and gardening, while also establishing relationships with the local communities.

“Our volunteers, who mainly consist of Curtin students, dedicate their time and provide invaluable support to communities who need it the most. The project also helps students gain meaningful learning experiences and make lifelong friends.”

Curtin University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Professor Jill Downie said John Curtin Weekend is a significant annual event for the Curtin community and would not be possible without the dedication and support of the Curtin Volunteers! team.

“John Curtin Weekend is now in its 22nd year, and even though 2020 has had its challenges due to COVID-19, the volunteers are fortunate to be able to travel and participate in the project,” Professor Downie said.

“There has never been a more important time to lend a hand and support one another during this difficult time. Curtin’s volunteering teams are a terrific example of this and I wish them all the best throughout the project.”

Further information on John Curtin Weekend can be found online here.

For more information about Curtin Volunteers!, visit here.

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