Joreads

It is Sunday afternoon here and I have just come home for the beach. There was a surf life saving regatta on today, men, women and children of all ages competing in a triathlon.

Nothing to special about that – well apart from the fact that for the last month there has been a spate of shark sighting and attacks in the Illawarra. There were two attacks alone last week. Yet not one of these volunteers’ life savers hesitated for even a second to run into the water this morning sharks and all.

It got me thinking just how much we take for granted. Every Sunday when I go for my swim I know there will be more then six sets of eyes on me and everyone else in the water at all times. If I need help all I need do is raise my hand and there it will be there.

We have bush fires at the moment in NSW and the rural bushfire service is working overtime to try and get these blazes under control before they start to get to close to people and their homes. I should point out that these fire fighters are all volunteers. Men and Women who give up their weekends and even in some cases paid work to save lives.

I have to ask myself where would we be without them?

So to all the volunteers out there no matter what it is that you do – thank you. I know it is not much and I also know that is all that you ask for. Without people like you we would be a lot worse off in so many ways.