For the first time in its seven years of running, The Big Lift (TBL) from the University of Technology Sydney visited Bombala to share their volunteering movement.
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Founded on the philosophy of ‘Paying it Forward’, The Big Lift is a student run, volunteer organisation that takes two busloads of students on a nine day bus trip through regional Australia to complete various projects.
Coordinated by Tanya Ingram at the Platypus Visitors Information Centre (VIC), The Big Lift arrived in Bombala last Monday evening around 6pm with 37 volunteer students on board.
“We set them up in the supper room of the Exhibition Hall which is warm and the Exhibition Society ladies put on a beautiful and hearty meal for them,” Ms Ingram said.
“The next morning a group of the students were up bright and early and down at the river looking for platypus.
“After a continental breakfast supplied by the VIC the students started work,” she said.
TBL spokesperson Aditi Das said the students worked closely with Exhibition Society members Neil Hennessy, Graham Hillyer and Dick Cross on a variety of different jobs.
“We helped take donated timber to the Bombala Men’s Shed where it was put through the thicknesser and planer before we helped load it up to be taken back to the showgound to make more seats,” Ms Das said.
“Then a group of students worked in the exhibition centre taking out all the staples and rubbish from the walls.
“Other students worked taking down old fences at the showground and then we dug new holes for fence posts in preparation for new fencing outside the change sheds at the showground,” she said.
Show Society coordinator Neil Hennessy said the students were a terrific bunch of people with great attitude and spirit. They were fantastic, really lovely kids,” he said.
Later that day the students all dined at Jono’s at the Bombala RSL Club before they all got on a bus early in the evening to head for Orbost.
Communications graduate and president of The Big Lift, Jen Ng said, “The Big Lift gives students a unique experience showing it can be rewarding and fun. If people come together for a great cause, real change can be achieved.”