"Society would not function without volunteers."

If there is one thing that unites SUE CHAMBERLAIN’s volunteer experiences, it is connection. Connecting through music, reading, and fun for the wider Wellington community. 

Sue tells me, modestly, that she “volunteers at a few different places." One of these organisations is Whakaaharu, a group of twenty two dedicated volunteers who rehearse once a fortnight and sing at sick people’s bedsides every other week. Her favourite part is when they join in and her favourite song to sing is La Mar Estaba Serena. She is also on the national board of Red Cross New Zealand, where she is deeply involved in helping an up-and-coming music project within the Red Cross. “Music has always been a part of me,” she says, describing herself as an “enthusiastic amateur."

She volunteers one morning a week at a primary school, helping children practise reading. Her presence and unwavering attention not only help them focus better on their studies, but makes them feel special, important, and listened to. 

She also supports the organisation Blue Dragon through the recent and beloved Ngaio book fair, which raises money for a children’s charity in Vietnam. And, on top of all of this, she is currently trying to get funds raised for the Wellington Folk Festival in October. When I ask Sue what she does outside of her volunteer work, she answers, “I have a little bit of time to keep up with my friends.”

Sue has been volunteering most of her life and cites having children as a catalyst for her experiences. Volunteering for schools as a parent led her to volunteer as a conscientious and dedicated community member, giving her time and energy because she believes that “society would not function without volunteers." Although her son is an adult now, the experience of helping out on school days drove her to continue seeking new and exciting opportunities. 

Through her work with the Red Cross and Whakaharu, she has garnered many strong relationships and connections. She believes it is because the work is so emotional and personal that she can get to know her fellow volunteers so well, and she wishes more people, especially young people, knew about the power of volunteering. She encourages people to pick a “duty that suits them” and go from there, just as she has done with all of her musical exploits. 

Sue hopes that – if she has free time! – her next volunteering endeavour will be focused on the environment and the sustainability trust. I have no doubt that whatever she tackles, Wellington is lucky to have her.