Editorial: The value of time and effort

IF YOU were asked to do something - something which would take your time but would result in something getting done for someone else, what would be your initial response?

Would it be "when do you want me to pop along then?"

Or would it be "will I get paid for it?"

There is a time and a place for both responses as they would depend on the task at hand.

If you were asked by a mate to spend an afternoon chopping firewood because he had a few blokes "down the track" who wanted to buy it, then yes, the issue of "what's in it for me?" is a sound one to pursue.

Or helping clear someone's backyard because they'd had a notice from the council to get it cleaned up.

In that case it wouldn't be a cash thing ... but the suggestion of a few cold ones at the end of the day would be more than acceptable.

But on the whole, when it comes to helping out, doing your bit, putting a few hours in, giving them a hand, I reckon we Kiwis are right up there on the frontline.

The volunteering front line.

Here in the Bay, we're no exception.

In this job I come across occasion after occasion, pretty well on a weekly basis, of people stepping up and doing something for their community for no other reason than to "give a hand".

Sometimes it is high-profile volunteering.

Like the Rugby World Cup last year, when scores of people put in hundreds of hours to help in getting it to all run like clockwork.

Yeah, they got a jacket to keep, but there was no money in it. And what a brilliant job they did.

More than 200 volunteers are on the books of the Napier Community Patrols group. They put in a lot of time, purely and simply for their community.

The local Civil Defence put out a call for more volunteers recently ... they had more than 50 calls.

You'll often see groups of volunteers out clearing litter, gardening, raising money for charitable organisations and pretty well anything that needs to be done.

About 17 years ago I put my hand up to spend a Saturday morning planting shrubs and trees at the local kindergarten my son attended and I thought nothing of it at the time. But I still walk past there every now and then and the trees are big and blooming.

And I simply think - "I'm glad I did that."

Hawke's Bay vollies?

Good on you all.