The Why of Volunteering - David Gifford

“In my day job, I work for the bad guys,” jokes David.

This is, of course, untrue: he works for a reputable construction company, but it hints at the need for volunteers to bring “counter programming” to their lives.

In short, David’s invaluable work as FoMC secretary and regular creek carer, provides a helpful counterpoint to his work in an engineering office which, at best, could be described as “net neutral” to the environment.

Studying environmental engineering at university, David now works in a world of spreadsheets, construction and intense phone calls to contractors. 

While the FoMC thankfully does not use Excel all that often, David’s speedy minute taking at FoMC meetings and ability to efficiently communicate with councils and local politicians, employs his professional skills for good. The good of the Merri Creek.

Asked if he has any goals for his work for FoMC, David honestly concludes that he has limited time and capacity to be a key organiser within FoMC. 

We can’t all be leaders and sometimes people “need followers”, David notes. “You need someone to turn up to a bunch of plantings and just do the work. I like being that person. I like not having to be the leader sometimes.”

David has given up counting the amount of plants he has planted at FoMC events. Probably numbering the thousands, counting the number of empty pots (the method most commonly used in pot accounting) is often hilariously thwarted by child volunteers swiping the tube stock pots to create their own “snake”. Besides, experienced planters are needed for hole digging and plant distribution, with the excitement of planting (and counting) left for newbies.

Favourite Merri Creek experiences: 

• seeing the Creek change over time;
• seeing kangaroos in places where you don’t normally expect to see kangaroos (and they’re not in danger), and
• sitting in Merri Park where, “I feel like I am not in the centre of the city ”and really “nailing the sense of place”

If you feel like joining or volunteering for FoMC, check out our calendar, or look at the many benefits of joining on the FoMC website.