Meet Ellie Blackney: Volunteer Profile

30 Mar Meet Ellie Blackney: Volunteer Profile

Volunteers are the life blood of the Camperdown Community House. Volunteers are our everything!

Meet Ellie Blackney.

Ellie has lived in the Camperdown area for 15 years. When asked about her favourite thing about Camperdown, Ellie replies;

“The architecture of the old buildings and the friendly people”.

Ellie has been volunteering at the Camperdown Community House now for a year. One of the roles she has taken on is as a part of the front of house volunteer team. This team is invaluable, as it provides consistent friendly, and helpful, faces to greet any visitors to the house and respond to the many phone calls we received daily. The front of house team really does create the ‘community’ in Community House.

At the October 2022 Annual General Meeting, Ellie accepted the position as Secretary on the Committee of Management, and has taken to this position like a duck to water. Ellie is providing professionalism and enthusiasm for fulfilling the roles of secretary, and is always willing to go the extra mile.   

Ellie is always the first to put her hand up to help, and fills a variety of volunteer roles across the community as well as the volunteering she does at community house. Ellie is currently the secretary of the Corangamite arts group committee, and she is involved in a lot of bits and pieces around town and out of town as well, including being a part of a pear action group a group of people with disabilities.

When asked why Ellie volunteers and why others should also, she explains;

“It gives me purpose, just do it, it’s worth it. If your lonely it’s good to come volunteer and gives you a reason to get up in the morning”.

Ellie has a number of impressive hobbies, including playing the ukulele, singing, and writing her own songs. She has a massive passion for origami art which she has been creating for two years now. She is self-taught and loves to take on different challenges and tasks when it comes to anything paper! Ellie spends a lot of her time practicing karate which she has been doing since 2011. She is a second day notabilities black belt in one style and has just started the second style last year in Terang and Geelong.

Ellie inspires us with all her commitment to create a positive and caring community through volunteering and use you spare time to benefit others. May we all strive to be as selfless and thoughtful as Ellie.

Volunteering at Camperdown Community House is a rewarding way to give back to your community, meet new people, share your skills or passion, and/or learn and get involved with something new.

There are numerous ways to get involved as a volunteer and we are committed to working individually to find the best fit each person. You are never locked in to one way of volunteering or one particular volunteer role. CCH provides a flexible, responsive and personalized approach to volunteering, and we can work together to make sure you are feeling satisfied and fulfilled by your engagement with the organisations as a volunteer.

The benefits of volunteering (from Volunteering Victoria)

• Happiness: Volunteers are happier, healthier and sleep better than those who don’t volunteer
• Health: Sustained volunteering is associated with better mental health
• Community: The experience of helping others provides meaning, a sense of self-worth and inclusion
• Skill building: Did you know over 85% of HR Managers look for volunteering on CVs? Learn new skills and get ahead in the job market.

Camperdown Community House is open 9.30am-4.30pm Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays and 9am-1pm Fridays. You can CONTACT US or call us on (03) 5593 1403.