Volunteers are unsung heroes at Maadi Regatta
The Maadi Regatta is run almost entirely by volunteers, according to Don Craig.
It’s an event with 2000 competitors, and more people on top of that, but the Maadi Regatta simply would not work without the volunteers.
Chairman of Karapiro Rowing, Don Craig, said that about 60 to 70 people normally volunteered for the Regatta. “It’s run almost 100 percent by volunteers,” he said.
Volunteers can range from umpires, boat holders and computer operators to security guards, parking wardens and even rubbish men. “They’re doing anything and everything about organising the Regatta.”
“There are guys that get up at 3 o’clock in the morning to be out at the course. They drive from, say, Tauranga or Auckland to come there.”
The volunteers “come from all walks of life”, according to Craig. “Some of them are brand new to rowing because their children have started rowing and they want to help out. Others have been rowers themselves.”
Johnson Raumati, the traffic management controller has been volunteering at Maadi since 1999.
He makes sure traffic is under control and pedestrians are safe.
Raumati said it gets much busier towards the end of the week. “It’ll be really hectic for Maadi Cup. There’ll be over a thousand vehicles here.”
Surprisingly, it’s not hard to find people willing to help, according to Craig. “We shoulder tap some people if we know there’s people who [are] interested in helping out or we think they have the right skills. Often they walk in off the street and say ‘I want to help’, and we get them started that way.”
He said the Regatta “wouldn’t work” without them.
