National Volunteer Week has started with the Lexmark Indy 300 announcing it is striving to recruit a record number of volunteers for an annual Australian major event or festival this year.


Queensland’s premier event scheduled for October 19 to 22 this year has commenced its volunteer recruitment drive with a target of 1,700 volunteers, 200 more than its traditional annual target.


The recruitment drive will hit top gear tomorrow Wednesday May 17 at the National Volunteer Week Expo to be staged at King George Square in Brisbane. A number of past and present Lexmark Indy 300 volunteers will speak about their experiences at Queensland’s premier event.


The Lexmark Indy 300 already holds the record for recruiting the largest number of volunteers for an annual Australian major event or festival.


The Formula 1 Foster’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne and the Clipsal 500 both train 1,200 volunteers, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras uses 1000, the Adelaide Fringe Festival has more than 350 and the Sydney Royal Easter Show uses around 150 volunteers.


The need for 200 more volunteers across all roles is testament to the Lexmark Indy 300’s growth in recent years as crowds now exceed 316,000 over four days and four nights of racing and entertainment.


Volunteers are currently being recruited for roles including pit lane, fire, flag, grid, track and spectator marshals to accreditation centre, gate, grandstand, information booth, corporate usher and pit walk officials.


Lexmark Indy 300 General Manager Ken Freer said the volunteer team is an integral ingredient in the Lexmark Indy 300’s success.


“The diverse range of skills, experience and knowledge that the volunteer team brings is invaluable, and has gone a long way in developing the Lexmark Indy 300’s status as Queensland’s premier event and one of the best event experiences in the world,” said Freer.


“While the volunteers make a vital input, it is also a thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying experience for them in return. They can perform their role while having loads of fun meeting new people, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the entertainment.”


Hailing from all points in Australia, the volunteers represent a huge range of ages and interests, and attend as individuals, families or social groups.


The Coles family from Morayfield, Queensland, makes the Lexmark Indy 300 an annual excursion. Father Ernie, his wife Narelle and 31-year-old son Allan work as Pit Walk volunteers, and thoroughly enjoy the experience in the centre of all activity on track.


“For the past 15 years volunteering at Indy has been our annual family holiday,” said Narelle.


“It’s great to be able to do something as a family, and there are different features of the event that appeal to each of us.


“The best thing about volunteering would have to be the thousands of people we have met. Many spectators come back every year and drop in to say hello. We’ve also all formed quite lasting friendships with other volunteers we work with.”


From university students to company directors, teenagers to grandparents, recruits from Queensland to overseas, men and women, the Lexmark Indy 300 volunteer team supports inclusion and diversity.


Last year Mark McCauley came all the way from Ireland to join the team and will do so again this year, while many volunteers came from areas within a short drive of the circuit like Broadbeach, Kirra, Coomera and Coolangatta.


Other volunteers boarded planes, trains and automobiles from as far south as Tasmania, west to Western Australia and north to the Northern Territory and North Queensland.


So what brings people from all over Australia and even the world to the Lexmark Indy 300 for this one week in October?


“The benefits of joining the volunteer team are the friendships that develop, spending time on the beautiful Gold Coast with all its celebrated features, mixing with drivers and other celebrities on and off track, enjoying an exclusive post-race party and contributing to the overall success of Queensland’s premier event,” said Freer.


All volunteers also receive two Lexmark Indy 300 shirts, one Lexmark Indy 300 cap, one rain coat, one set of ear plugs, a four-day General Admission guest pass, daily lunch and drinks, and an invitation to the post-race party.


A group of five friends from the Sunshine Coast support the notion of camaraderie among volunteers.


Jeff Frazer, a policeman, Matt Capper, a truck driver, Wozza Anderson, a company director, Billy McPherson, a fireman, and his sister, Cheryl McPherson, a childcare worker, have made Gate 10B their home during the Lexmark Indy 300.


“It’s great being a part of the event with the opportunity to help people,” said Jeff. “The crowds are all really friendly and you get the chance to lighten it up and have a good time with them.


“My highlights last year were being right on the edge of the track, right amongst the action, and the opportunities to get together with all the volunteers and develop some camaraderie.”


The love of the Lexmark Indy 300 will certainly be evident in up to 46 of the volunteers this year. This is the number of volunteers that have so far participated in the 15 events held on the Gold Coast since its inception in 1991.


People can apply to be a volunteer by contacting the Lexmark Indy 300 office on phone 07 5588 6800 or by visiting the volunteers page on the website at http://www.indy.com.au/event/volunteer/index.htm


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