The City of Greater Geelong is seeking friendly and helpful community members who are interested in becoming tourism volunteers.
The Geelong and Bellarine Visitor Information Services volunteers are often the first point of contact for those visiting the region. They happily answer questions, offer directions and provide maps and brochures at Geelong Visitor Information Centre at City Hall and The Carousel.
The team clinched gold in the ‘Outstanding Contribution by Volunteers’ category at November’s 2023 Victorian Tourism Awards for their instrumental role in growing visitation for Greater Geelong.
The team is made up of more than 60 passionate volunteers who dedicate their time to ensuring tourists enjoy their visit here and make the most out of everything the region has to offer.
“The team is looking for community members who want to connect with others and help promote Geelong and The Bellarine,” said Mayor, Trent Sullivan.
“Not only does volunteering make an invaluable contribution to the City and the community, but it provides social benefits for those involved and the chance to give something back to the community in which they live.
“Our volunteers are proud locals who are passionate about their backyard and are happy to showcase Geelong and the region to our visitors.
“If you are interested in people and would love to pass your love of Geelong and The Bellarine, volunteering with us could be for you,” he said.
Last year, Visitor Information Services volunteers Sandra Lovell, Ian Shimmen, Jenny Monaghan, Sonja Zolfel and Des Harris reached an incredible milestone of 30 years of service each.
“I’ve lived in Geelong my whole life and like to share what I think is good with visitors,” says Sandra.
“There was an ad in the paper for the first intake of volunteers. I had just finished playing tennis and was wondering what I was going to do on a Tuesday, and thought that volunteering sounded perfect.
“My favourite thing about volunteering is meeting people and helping them,” she said.
Executive Director Tourism – Greater Geelong & The Bellarine, Tracy Carter says volunteers servicing Visitor Information Centres are often the first point of contact for many tourists arriving in the region.
“By delivering up-to-date information on where to eat, sleep and explore, our volunteers serve as valuable ambassadors for the destination and play an integral role in enhancing our Visitor Economy, ensuring our region remains a world-class destination for those seeking memorable travel experiences,” she said.
Visit the Tourism Greater Geelong & The Bellarine website to read more about the volunteer role and apply.
