Volunteer efforts are heroic deeds indeed

WHEN it comes to lending a helping hand, Samoan-born Lutu Semisi is a man-mountain.

This Tullera landscaper has put out a call to help rebuild his island nation in the wake of the recent and devastating tsunami.

His efforts are both heart-warming and heroic, because it takes guts and determination to make such a complex venture come true.

Of course, many people in our region would do the same thing if placed in similar circumstances.

This weekend we saw volunteers with the Disabled Surfers Association take time out from their favourite past-time to show others less fortunate the joys of their sport.

And those who visited a comeback kick-butt Casino Show enjoyed the fruits of volunteer labour, without which there would have been no show at all.

And this Thursday many will watch with earnest the result of a caring community as the judges in the North Coast National decide who is Lismore's Show Girl for 2009.

Not all is perfect in our prime district, however. Broadwater CWA has had to call it quits on a long and proud tradition simply because no volunteers were able to take the load off tired shoulders.

While we may be a busy lot, the new generation of community residents needs to think how they might also give back to their caring community.

Without a functioning volunteer effort for all things - from rebuilding a nation to raising money for breast cancer - we revert to a people starved by our own isolation. After all, if we don't care for our community, why should community care for us?