Volunteers recognised

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Volunteer Phil Rawson is given a biscuit by Selina Mulder, as First Church senior minister the Rev Tokerau Joseph looks on, as part of Volunteer Awareness Week. Photo by Craig Baxter.

First Church senior minister the Rev Tokerau Joseph and church member Selina Mulder handed out biscuits in Moray Pl to passers-by who had volunteered in some capacity.

Phil Rawson was coming from a meeting of the 60s Plus Club when he was asked if he had ever been a volunteer.

Mr Rawson said the group of about 500 did volunteering at the hospice, in rest-homes and delivered meals-on-wheels.

He thought it was important to recognise the marvellous work done by volunteers.

"They do lots of good, there's no doubt about it."

Mr Joseph said most of the First Church congregation served in some sort of volunteer capacity.

"We wouldn't be able to do what we do if we didn't have volunteers."

Presbyterian Church Assembly executive secretary the Rev Martin Baker said four churches from around New Zealand had given out baking as part of Volunteer Awareness Week.

The church wanted to recognise the central role volunteers played and thank them for their contribution.

"Many of them do their work in a way that is unrecognised and uncelebrated. Without them, I don't think New Zealand would be the place that it is."