Volunteers hit a six for sport in Tasmania

National Volunteer Week 12-18 May 2014

With volunteering in the areas of sport and recreation coming in as the number one choice for
around 36 per cent of Tasmania’s 158,000 volunteers, Volunteering Tasmania today held a
celebration as part of National Volunteer Week 2014 to recognise the power of volunteering in
sport.

Volunteering Tasmania (VT) CEO Adrienne Picone was joined by guest speaker and Australian
Cricketer, Xavier Doherty, to thank the many volunteers across the state who give their energy and
time so generously to our communities.

“Volunteers are essential to the ongoing sustainability of sport within Tasmania, with many
Tasmanians donating their time to a myriad of sporting clubs and events, ranging from their child’s
soccer team right through to Targa Tasmania and our iconic Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race,” Ms
Picone said.

“Research conducted by VT in 2010 indicated that over 40 per cent of volunteer-involving sport and
recreation organisations in Tasmania required more volunteers for growth and around one-quarter
needed more volunteers just to replace normal turnover.

“At a national level, community sport and recreation relies on around 1.7 million volunteers who
contribute a massive 165 million hours to running sport and recreation events across Australia.”
Volunteers are vital to the successful running of most sporting clubs – a situation which Australian
Spinner Xavier Doherty is all too familiar with.

Mr Doherty said volunteers have played invaluable roles throughout his sporting career to date.
“Volunteers play such an important role in Australian cricket and we cannot thank them enough,”
Mr Doherty said.

“Tasmanians now have a once in a generation opportunity to join these sporting volunteer
champions, with ICC Cricket World Cup currently calling for volunteers to assist with three matches
to be hosted at Bellerive Oval in March 2015.

“Tasmania will play host to a range of exciting international matches, including Zimbabwe v Ireland,
Sri Lanka v Scotland and Australia v Scotland, so it’s certainly a volunteering opportunity not to be
missed.”

National Volunteer Week runs from 12 – 18 May and aims to recognise the contribution of the six
million volunteers who offer their time and dedication to Australian communities.
For more information about volunteering at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 visit
www.cricketworldcup.com or phone 1300 722 015.
Volunteering Tasmania (VT) CEO Adrienne Picone, Australian Cricketer, Xavier Doherty,