Volunteers are the lifeblood of so many local events – and the Lismore Friendship festival is no exception.

So, when festival coordinator Ros Derrett heard that she’d been successful in gaining volunteer grant funding to help buy essential equipment and train volunteers, she was over the moon.

With this year’s July festival already cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions, Ros is gearing up to recruit and train new volunteers and make next year’s event bigger and better than ever.

The festival’s funding grant of $3210 was announced by Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan this week as part of National Volunteers Week. It was one of many local applicants to receive funding of between $1000 and $5000.

Ros said training new volunteers and upskilling existing volunteers in how to run an event means the festival’s future is looking rosy.

“We are always looking for people keen to help out run our Italian themed festival,” Ros said. “There are many roles people can take on – from distributing food, to preparing performers and setting up.

“Last year we focussed on people with mixed ability –and had lots of people with their carers attend and the support for them was incredible.

Carer Johnno assisting Tamarrah who volunteered to keep pathways clear and safe at the 2019 Piazza in the Park.

“This funding will also help us with more practical logistics and we’ll be able to purchase things we normally hire for the event – like chairs, tables, furniture for the kids space – we run a performance and visual arts program for the kids too.

“We also can update our first aid equipment and so many other things.”

The one day festival is held every year and includes an Italian film festival and the Piazza in the Park, (held in Spinx Park by the river).

“The festival began as a celebration of Lismore’s two Italian sister cities,” Ros said.

“Lots of Italians immigrated here and we have volunteers from the Italian community participating – including the Italo Club involved.

“We had arranged for the Ferrari club to come from Queensland this year – hopefully they will come next year.

Volunteers from the Italo Club delivering a stall full of authentic Italian food led by Shirley Pirlo (R).

“We are working on other things that will happen this year and in the lead up to it. We are looking at creating digital music and engaging professional musicians here and in Italy – people can log on and we’ll see what comes out of it.

“Anything that gets created can be performed at Piazza in the Park next year.”

If you are interested in getting involved with the Friendship Festival for next year, you can contacts organisers through the festival’s Facebook page or website https://lismorefriendshipfestival.com.au/

MP Kevin Hogan said organisations can use the volunteer grant funding to purchase new equipment, pay fuel and transport costs or cover training costs.

Other local recipients to receive funding include:

$3,240 for Australian Breastfeeding Association Lismore Group to support volunteer Mums run education classes.

$1,350 for Rainbow Region Community Farms Incorporated to undertake first aid training and purchase new garden tools.

$4,860 for Veterans Motorcycle Club Rock Valley Chapter Incorporated to establish food preparation, storage and laundry facilities.

$1,800 for Nimbin Neighbourhood and Information Centre Inc to upgrade and purchase new furniture.