A couple weeks back, I wrote how inspired I felt from the Marlborough Community & Volunteer of the Year Awards. Marlburians, generous with their energy and resources, bridge gaps which otherwise would remain voids. I found myself among hundreds at the ceremony.
I noted that seeing the scope of volunteerism in Marlborough reinvigorated my enthusiasm for making positive impacts.
I also noted my involvement with Rotary. This international service organisation has two clubs in Blenheim, and 2027 marks the centenary for Rotarians in this community.
At both the club level and the South Island level, I am honoured to serve in leadership roles. I headed to Christchurch this past weekend to gather with others in the district and returned with fresh motivation.
Volunteer work is still work. It takes time. Volunteers give their time to this work knowingly, willingly and eagerly. Time, however, is a finite commodity.
I have been a journalist for 40 years counting the university paper – 37 at dailies and weeklies in California and here. I love meeting people and relaying their stories. I love working with colleagues who share this passion. The profession is more than a pay cheque; so many professions pay so much more.
Pete Jones is a prime example, four decades into a sport-writing career which I will not be surprised to see extend into a fifth.
Journalism takes time – quality journalism, at least. In an area as vibrant as Marlborough, where events abound and news breaks frequently, reporter-editor is not the typical office job with set business hours.
Things happen on nights and weekends. (For Pete, that’s primetime!) Those things include volunteer commitments, thereby creating a Catch-22 for someone with duelling schedules.
So, I am transitioning out of the news editor position at Marlborough Weekly. I started with Top South Media as a contributor on a casual basis; I certainly would welcome that full-circle opportunity. While I focus on volunteering, I will continue writing my column for the States, so I should not be too rusty …
Thank you, Marlborough Weekly – and readers!
Email evan@topsouthmedia.co.nz to contact the author.
