volunteers
The society is able to provide a wide range of social assistance because of the generosity of our team of volunteers. Some are involved in intense cases of need of elderly Swiss, providing visits and support. Others assist with distributing gifts to our elderly at Christmas or with helping at our events. We are also fortunate that some professionals are able to offer their services pro bono. The SCCS committee and other volunteers do not receive payment for their services. Have you thought about becoming a volunteer? Please contact me if this interests you. - Regula
Our volunteer Rural Coordinators engage with compatriots to promote good fellowship; provide an awareness of the activities and role of the society, and some also arrange social activities. We now have 12 Rural Coordinators and they’re situated throughout rural and regional NSW. See who our Rural Coordinators are and their contact details on the CONTACTS page.
Herbert Würsch, our Rural Coordinator located near Coonabarabran
While travelling with friends in country NSW, my husband and I visited Herbert Würsch and his wife Beatrice.
The couple own and manage a big farm near Coonabarabran. 'Near' means about 35km from town. Herbert was happy to be a Rural Coordinator for SCCS when I asked him some years ago. He says that he does not get flooded with requests for help, but for many years, long before taking on our 'job', he and Beatrice have supported a Swiss man who lives equally distanced on the other side of town.
Since retiring from his job in Sydney, that man has lived independently on his acreage, which has been a dream come true. He has a neighbour in similar circumstances, but otherwise, life is quite lonely apart from meeting people on errands to town and Sunday visits to church. That’s where he met Herbert and Beatrice decades ago.
However, time has moved on, and the question is now, how much longer will this single man be able to live on his own? Age has taken over, the driver’s licence had to be relinquished, the shops are far away ... Well-meaning suggestions from Herbert and Beatrice to move into town, for instance into an Aged Care Facility, fall on deaf ears. They have to accept that they cannot determine the lifestyle of their friend, but at least, they are in the area - wonderful Swiss people, who are ready for a chat on the phone and a pick-up on Sundays to go to church and afterwards to a nearby café for a yarn. - Regula
New Rural Coordinator volunteers Hans Lang and Monika Kampfer
I had a great pleasure recently when I approached two people in regard to becoming Rural Coordinators. They both responded to my tentative question with a fairly spontaneous 'Yes'.
One of them is Hans Lang, a second-generation Swiss who lives with his wife Karen on the Central Coast. I met Hans, together with his mother, at one of our events, and also again last November at the free concert in the Conservatorium of Music, to which we had invited our members.
Hans has been helping us for some time with the distribution of Christmas presents on the Central Coast, which means that some of the Swiss people in that area may already know him. Should you wish to get in touch with Hans you can find his details under CONTACTS on this website. - Regula
The other new coordinator is Monica Kampfer. Monica lives in Tuross Head on the South Coast, together with her partner Kurt. When she settled in that part of NSW about 15 years ago, Monica must have had her eyes and ears really open, because since then she has met about twenty Swiss people in her nearer or slightly further surroundings.
Monica took the lead and started organising get-togethers for these compatriots. They meet once or twice a year for lunch or a picnic and to have a good time. Through Monica’s initiative these people know of and seem to enjoy the company of each other.
Word of this group of Swiss must have gotten around, because someone I know mentioned Monica’s name to me. With her being so active already, it was logical that I ask Monica to join our team of Rural Coordinators. Monica was happy to become a member of SCCS and have her details published together with those of the others on this website and in the Swiss Review and SCNews magazines. And so I am thrilled to finally have found someone to represent SCCS on the far South Coast of NSW!
I invite you to see some lovely photos that Monica has sent to us. Go to MORE, and then VOLUNTEERS FEATURE.
I welcome coordinators Hans and Monica and thank them sincerely for helping us spread the word of our society outside of Sydney. Although many of us Swiss have adapted very well to life in Australia, I think it’s wonderful to have some connections to fellow Eidgenossen. Even if we don’t frequently see or contact each other, it’s great to know that a little bit of the old Heimat is not far away.
A thank-you also needs to be said to Gerhard Moser, our ex-Rural Coordinator, who has moved from the Central Coast to Queensland. I know that Gerhard has already made contact with Queensland SCCS and am confident that he and his wife will enjoy life 'up there' as well. We wish you all the best, Gerhard! - Regula