A group of Curtin University students attending this year's Northam Farmers Show will join a 500-strong team of volunteers visiting regional towns and metropolitan cities across Western Australia, Singapore and Malaysia over the next month as part of the annual John Curtin Weekend.
The volunteers will lend a helping hand to more than 40 community projects across the Mid-West, Wheatbelt, Goldfields-Esperance, Peel and South-West regions, as well as the Cities of Swan and Wanneroo, Town of Victoria Park, and the Shire of Mundaring.
In Northam, a group of students will help set up and pack down exhibitions, survey attendees and provide additional support at the Northam Agricultural Show.
Local coordinators Belle Moore and Karen Ducat said students from the university have contributed to the success of the annual show since 2012.
"The students are keen to be involved in a variety of activities - assisting with preparing horse jumps, horse activity judging, animal nursery participation, working with volunteer members of Earth Solutions-Avon Valley Inc and Northam Heritage Forum Inc in the successful co-ordination of the Chidlow Street entry gate to the show grounds, assisting wherever called upon to help prepare exhibitions," Mrs Moore said.
"We have worked with the students since the initial time.
"The weekend provides students with an opportunity to learn aspects of country shows."
This year's John Curtin Weekend comes as Curtin Volunteers!, the University's student-driven volunteering hub, celebrates its 25th birthday.
John Curtin Weekend coordinato Krishan Shah said the team was delighted to be marking the special milestone with another successful John Curtin Weekend.
"John Curtin Weekend is Curtin Volunteers!' largest community project, forging its place on the calendars of various community organisations who look forward to our dedicated volunteers providing their support every year," Mr Shah said.
"During this year's John Curtin Weekend, about 500 volunteers will roll up their sleeves and donate their time to more than 40 community projects spread across Western Australia, as well as Singapore and Malaysia."
Curtin University deputy vice-chancellor Professor Jill Downie said John Curtin Weekend was one of Western Australia's largest annual community projects.
"John Curtin Weekend is held to honour Australia's wartime Prime Minister, John Curtin, and demonstrate his qualities of vision, leadership and community service," Professor Downie said.
"Our wonderful team of volunteers donate their time and efforts to help others every year, offering their support to a range of different causes and learning valuable life lessons along the way."