If I have learned one
important lesson in the years that I have worked to ensure that our
environment is treated with respect it is this. There will always be
many people to shout the odds,to insist that”Something must be
done.” There are much fewer people prepared to soil their hands in
battle to ensure that something is done.
Yesterday I was
pleasantly surprised when almost the full complement of Friends of
Silverhall turned out for remove rubbish from the river and to plant
spring flowers. They worked tirelessly and without complaint in some
very messy areas,they gave up their Sunday to ensure that their local
Park remained a beautiful and useful amenity for the community.
I said almost all,
strangely the ones who had shouted the loudest in the beginning,wrung
out their hankies and lamented about the Councils neglect of this
pretty spot, were conspicuous by their absence . Not for them the
mucky wellies or hands torn by bramble,not for them the aching back.
These “Weako
Warriors”.....even maybe “Wacko Warriors” content themselves
with weeping and wailing loud enough to attract attention then
disappearing until more stalwart individuals deal with the problem,
then they reappear and congratulate themselves upon a job well done
Some are addicted to
committees and belong to so many that they do not have the time to
actually do anything constructive! We like all groups have our share
of these.
Yesterday my son raised
an army,even he was surprised at the number of volunteers,they worked
with care (not a power tool in sight) to improve the habitat for our
precious wild life.
My son is immensely
proud of them,and they should be proud of themselves . All around the
country on weekends and evenings thousands of volunteers give of
their time in the service of the community. They do it quietly and
without fuss,they are heroes.
There is a saying which
goes”Volunteers are unpaid,not because they are useless ,but
because the are priceless.” I believe that saying to be true.
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