Volunteers help Bribie Island flourish

Close to $100,000 has been given to charities and community organisations across Bribie Island thanks to kind-hearted volunteers from the Wallum Action Group.

The not-for-profit organisation raised the money during the 2022-2023 financial year from sales made at the Bribie Island Community Nursery, which the group runs.

Wallum Action Group President David Wearne says he loves helping others in need.

“It’s great to give back to the community and help others where we can,” David says.

“We never know what the call will come in for, but in the past year we have helped sponsor a few young kids so they can attend big sporting carnivals and events outside the region, as well as helping sporting clubs buy new equipment.

“One group we help on a regular basis is the Bribie Island Neighbourhood Centre because they do a lot of great work helping people who are homeless or in crisis.

“We help them by buying food every couple of months because they go through that quite quickly with the amount of people they help.

“We also gave them tents and sleeping bags to hand out to people during the colder months.”

In the past year, the Wallum Action Group also donated funds to The House of Happiness, which is a seaside facility at Woorim for children with special needs; Toc H, a volunteer movement designed to help break down barriers for the disadvantaged and marginalized; as well as the new Beachmere Community Garden.

Since forming in 1988, other essential projects the Wallum Action Group has supported include training an assistance dog, buying new diabetes pumps (before they were added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme), defibrillators, wheelchairs to be used at Caboolture Hospital, torches for the local SES, and Camp Quality.

David says avid gardeners and green thumbs can help them raise more money for the community by visiting the nursery.

“People who come in and shop at the nursery know their money is going back into the local community, which is why they will always come here,” David says.

“We sell a lot of native plants and flowers, all of which are at very reasonable prices.

“You can come in and fill a few boxes with plants and not pay more than $20.

“But all that money adds up and greatly helps a lot of people.”

The Bribie Island Community Nursery is at 208 First Ave, Bribie Island.