Volunteers are our true heroes
The heroic volunteers at the Luncheon Club may not want any personal accolade, but their deserving work is being recognised in a new documentary series.
The Australian Film, Television and Radio School went looking for the Everyday Heroes of our community and found Carole Ann King and her team.
The social club for HIV-positive people to have a meal twice a week and catch up with friends has a small army of people behind it, and not all of them are quite what people expect.
It’s really hard to find a sense of community in the modern world, so when you find pockets like this it’s really powerful. I was humbled, AFTRS producing student Muffy Potter said after filming with the volunteers.
They don’t feel like they’re sacrificing, they feel like they’re getting so much from volunteering. That’s the difference. There is a great love, just being involved.
The AFTRS chose the Luncheon Club as one of four charities for the documentary series after completing a feature on Vanessa Wagner last year.
The episode is available for SBS to screen, but more importantly will be used to seek new financial sponsors for the charity, increasingly in need after a crippling year in which two major fundraiser activities were closed.
Our job is far from over -“ we know we need to be there for a long time. The question mark will always be a financial one, King told SSO.
She called it a hideous 12 months, which, after soul-searching, gave them the courage to come back and raise the money to reopen the Larder.
We used to have one night a month at Manacle and that’s folded. We used to do the crab races at the Newtown Hotel and that’s gone. We’re definitely looking for new sponsors.
Our biggest sponsor at the moment is gaymatchmaker.com -“ they’ve never had any publicity for that. Last year they walked in the door with $10,000 -“ it’s been really special.
The Luncheon Club’s Christmas dinner is being held on 17 December with JBear performing. Everyday Heroes will be screening at the Luncheon Club, 77 Kellick St, Waterloo, on 19 December.
