Doing something for others

18th June 2009

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HARD YARDS: Tony Grant Fargie (left) and Frank Hughes give up their time to volunteer for the Lions.

Spare a thought for those who repeatedly give up their spare time for somebody else's sake - because from Sunday June 14 to Saturday June 20 it's Volunteer Awareness Week. The Wanganui Chronicle spoke with Tony Grant-Fargie, a local man who spends half of most days doing something for somebody else.

Volunteering. Where did it all begin? I grew up in Patea as a young fella with no car. I got involved with the community a lot. I also joined the Junior Chamber International, and was involved right through to the time I was 40. It's something that's been a big part of my life.

What organisations have you been involved with in the past? I've done treasury work with the Border Rugby Football Club, the Surf Lifesaving Club in Patea, which was very big in the 1960s. I've been involved with the Patea Maori Committee, the Patea Community Board, Patea Primary School and the Gonville School Committee.

Who are you involved with at the moment? I am currently the president of Grey Power Wanganui, a member of the Wanganui Lions, auditing work with the RSA, as well as a tourism group that promotes the city and district. I also do some work for Meals on Wheels once a month.

Why is it that you volunteer yourself? Well I believe in the old 80/20 rule.

In a lot of organisations you'll find that their activity consists of 80 per cent jawbone work and 20 per cent backbone work. There's a few people that are doing a whole lot of the work. Things don't happen unless you make them. You've just got to get in and do the hard yards.

What do you get out of volunteer work? It's the pleasure of watching things like the membership of Grey Power grow. When people respond to what you do.

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