Helpers Needed For Global Event
Illawarra Mercury
Saturday February 2, 2008
WOLLONGONG will get its own taste of World Youth Day celebrations when more than 2000 pilgrims from across the globe flock to the city.
And volunteers Stephen Varney, Ale Aguilera and Kassandra Hobbs are excited."I am expecting the celebrations will be huge," Miss Hobbs said.As co-host of World Youth Day, the Wollongong Catholic Diocese will accommodate and entertain international pilgrims in the week before Sydney's big day."Our visitors and locals will be treated to a massive Aussie barbecue and carnival at Lang Park, and a mass lead by Bishop Peter Ingham at the WIN Entertainment Centre," World Youth Day director of production Greg Elliott said."We will need helpers, obviously not as many as Sydney but there will be a lot on in Wollongong." Miss Hobbs has already put her hand up to help with Wollongong's festivities and is thinking about also volunteering for Sydney. "I haven't made up my mind yet but my mum is definitely volunteering and she is very excited," she said.Sydney organisers are calling for an 8000-strong army of volunteers to help in every facet of the celebrations.Chief operating officer Danny Casey said they needed everyone from kitchen hands and sales assistants to translators and liturgists.Wollongong volunteer Ale Aguilera has thought about helping out in Sydney and has done it all before."When I lived in South America I volunteered at a similar continental event and enjoyed it better as a volunteer than as an attendant," she said."I like volunteering, especially since coming to Australia because it is always a new experience and a good way to meet new people."World Youth Day is a mass youth convergence held by the Pope every two to three years. Sydney will host this year's event at Randwick Racecourse in July. Anyone over 18 who would like to volunteer for the Sydney event can register at www.wyd2008.org/volunteer.
© 2008 Illawarra Mercury