Fifty Two Corporate volunteers arrived at TCF by bus on Friday morning; they were greeted by sunshine and a spectacular view of the ocean. The comments are always the same. “Wow this is amazing, I never expected this”. A couple of early volunteers were included in the weekly staff and student meeting, which held an impromptu and emotional pre Anzac Day thankyou for those who protect us.
After a quick cup of tea, they broke into their work groups with their job tasks in hand. Mowing lawns and gardening under the clear blue autumn skies was a pleasant task, although very tiring, as there was a large number of girls doing the mowing. Another group finished of the work done a couple of weeks ago by the Dexus group, painting and attaching skirting boards to the log cabin that they had gyp rocked. Whilst the brave ones with tool belts and heavy machinery headed down to the hen house, to make a ‘chook run’ designed by the students.
The students worked alongside the corporate volunteers all day painting, chasing chickens, preparing salads for the BBQ lunch, cooking the BBQ for all the volunteers, mowing, weeding, and generally having a terrific time. One of the highlights of these working bees is working along side the students who often share their life stories; they love the opportunity to share and also hear about corporate life and just what opportunities might be out there for them.
During lunch everyone relaxed around the lawn area, students, staff of Triple Care Farm and volunteers all telling stories, and discussing the afternoons work; it seems the ‘chook run’ is running behind schedule!
By 4 pm the day was coming to a close, and all were tired but very content with their accomplishments. The chickens were being hand fed by one of our students and I was the recipient of 3 farm fresh eggs, which came from a group of battery chickens that were rescued by some of the students last week. Very special! I had them the next morning and they were wonderful!
Many hands do make light work.
Thankyou Property Industry Foundation!
A BIG thank you to all the volunteers from:
ARUP
AW Edwards
Delfin Lend Lease
Geyer
Investa
Investec
IPOH
Lend Lease
Mallesons Stephens Jacques
Michael Bell Architects
Mirvac
Napier Blakeley
Nettletontribe
Peter Shepherd Consulting
Reid Campbell
SEMF
Walton Construction
Westpac
