Over the past two months the Avon Valley and Wheatbelt Advocate has spearheaded a campaign exploring the current state of volunteering in the region and its future.
The discussion was sparked by the cancellation of the fortnightly Northam Farmers Markets and the proposed Telethon outdoor cinema series due to a lack of volunteers.
Although the need for more volunteers is a common concern for many community groups, there wasn't a lot of action taking place to change this.
Speaking to the Wheatbelt Volunteer Hub, I heard about the number of groups searching for volunteers and also the number of people who wanted to give up their time to help.
The Shire of Northam emergency services manager Brendon Rutter explained the risks our homes and land are facing if we continue to see low number of volunteers throughout the Shire.
The Northam Heritage Forum spoke of their ageing volunteer base, who have found it hard to keep up with the advances in technology.
A report by the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre revealed that more than 50 per cent of rural West Australians are volunteers but there is still a shortage that is set to decline further.
WA's volunteering minister Mick Muarry had his say on the topic, expressing his disappointment in the cancellation of local events.
But despite many of these challenges, there is hope.
We met Wundowie Primary School P&C president Emma Auld, who asked for help when the canteen was at risk of closing, with new recruits coming out of the woodwork.
Cameron Fernihough, this week's focus, has shown how young people are getting involved and enjoying it in the process.
Cameron is a poster boy for youth engagement.
His attitude towards giving up his time is unique and to be commended.
Speaking to him has encouraged me to explore what ways I can help relieve the strain on overworked volunteers and get involved in the community.
I hope others can also be inspired by some of our locals who are making a difference through their volunteer work.
These are only a few of the success stories in the region and moving forward I hope we will be able to share more - and maybe even see some events reintroduced to Northam.
