They are, however, becoming fewer in numbers and harder to enlist. Just look at a few scenarios, our major charities an easy first port of call.

The Salvation Army and the St Vincent de Paul Society are absolute linchpins of voluntary service in our community. Yet, both are crying out for more volunteers to help with their work.

It's one thing to leave a parcel of second hand clothing or linen at the drop off point but it needs lots of pairs of hands to sort and classify the content so that it can either go on sale to create more funds or pass directly to the people that need it the most.

Volunteers are not restricted to tasks such as these, either. Every one of us has some gifts or talents that can be shared - but we are all different and so are our abilities. Schools, churches and clubs all depend on voluntary supporters. Volunteer Fire Fighters need enormous courage and physical strength that is found in appropriate people.

We need to be eternally grateful to these men and women for putting their lives on the line to protect our land and our cities and all of those that live within them.

One can only look at the health service to find a wide circle of volunteer possibilities.

As you go in the front door, you will meet friendly people who are willing to help you find your way around the precinct.

A bit further down the passage you will find the kiosk, run by the Orange Hospital Branch of the United Hospital Auxiliaries of New South Wales providing refreshments and lots of other things for the benefit of the hospital.

How they manage to find enough people to staff this daily for the long hours would have to be a huge challenge for everyone involved.

None of this work is salaried - it all falls into the voluntary category.

It needs people who can serve at the counter, make sandwiches, brew the coffee and lots of other jobs.

Also within the hospital there are the premature babies, the Blue Ladies and Men, and possibly others that escape my memory.

But again, the members of these groups are volunteers.

Many people are unaware that the UHA of NSW has two branches operating within the Health Service.

The second one is the Bloomfield Hospital Branch who contribute to the well-being of people with mental health problems, drug and alcohol disorders and the like.

They do not have a very public face throughout the year but will shortly be selling tickets in the "Giant Raffle" throughout the Central Business District.

Again, this dedicated group of people need more volunteers to enable them to stay afloat and continue to be able to do the wonderful work they do and help those who need it.

They meet monthly on the second Wednesday at 12.30pm in the Barwon Building at Bloomfield.

If you can find it in your heart and soul to offer your time, energy and talent to this, or any other volunteer organisation, please don't defer your decision to another day, but act on it.

Find out exactly which one you feel you could try out, and do it!

Congratulations and thank you to all our volunteers.