Hands That Serve, Hearts That Preserve: Celebrating Our Community Volunteers
Photos: Archives of volunteers
National Volunteer Week 2025 in Australia will be held from May 19th to 25th. This annual event is organised by Volunteering Australia. It serves to celebrate and thank the millions of Australians who volunteer their time.
The 2025 theme is “Connecting Communities,” highlighting the power of volunteering to build relationships and strengthen communities.
Across the globe, volunteers form the invisible yet essential threads that hold the social fabric together. They give freely of their time, energy, and skills. This is not for recognition or reward, but out of a deep desire to contribute to something greater than themselves.
For migrant communities, including the Croatian community in Australia, they play an especially crucial role in keeping culture, language, and traditions alive.
Preserving Culture Through Service
Since the arrival of Croatian immigrants to Australia in the 20th century, volunteers have been central to establishing community hubs, churches, and cultural associations. These were not just places for social gatherings. They were spaces of cultural preservation.
Volunteers helped build Croatian Catholic centres, organised folklore and ‘tamburica’ groups, taught language classes, and ran sports clubs. They also coordinated traditional events – Christmas and Easter gatherings, national celebrations, sport tournaments, concerts, patron feasts, cultural exhibitions, community fundraisers, and youth camps…
Without volunteers, many of these initiatives would not exist. These individuals are the quiet stewards of memory. They ensure that second and third generations remain connected to their heritage. Their efforts preserve not only the customs and language but also a sense of belonging and pride for younger Croatians growing up in a multicultural society.
Faith, Identity, and Community Connection
The 2025 theme, “Connecting Communities,” resonates deeply here: volunteers serve as bridges — connecting generations, languages, and even continents. They pass on values rooted in compassion, generosity, and communal responsibility.
A Legacy Worth Celebrating
As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, it’s important to recognise that they are not only helping others. They are building legacies. Their contributions may not always be visible, but their impact is lasting.
They teach us that true connection comes from service. Communities thrive when individuals give of themselves for the common good.
To all the Croatian volunteers across Australia — those preparing ‘palačinke’ or ‘krafne’ in church halls, teaching traditional songs to children, helping with festivals, translating for elders, or simply offering a listening ear — your work matters. You are the heartbeat of your community!
A Call to the Next Generation
As older generations pass the torch, the future of Croatian cultural life in Australia depends on the willingness of younger members to step forward and serve. Croatian youth have so far set a good example of how to join and volunteer within the community.
Volunteering is not only a way to give back. It is a way to stay rooted in identity and grow in connection.
In this National Volunteer Week, let us celebrate those who give so generously. Let us be inspired to join them.