The Courthouse Refreshment Scheme under the auspices of the Manning Valley Neighbourhood Services Inc. (MVNS) exists to provide the opportunity for volunteers to offer light refreshments, two mornings a week when court is in session, to people obliged to attend court at the Taree Courthouse.

How the Scheme Started

Some years ago, the incumbent Community Development worker at the Manning Valley Neighbourhood Services Inc, Judith Johnston,  perceived the need of a scheme whereby volunteers recruited by the CDW could be rostered on  duty to offer a cup of tea or coffee and biscuits to people attending court in Taree.  With the support of the Management Committee, she approached local church groups seeking volunteers willing to be rostered in pairs once a month for half a day.  At first the roster was for only one morning per week but when the need arose, the scheme was expanded to two mornings – the situation that exists at present. 

Need for the Scheme

The value of the provision of light refreshments is self-evident.  Even on the brightest of days, the atmosphere outside the courthouse is bleak.  A cup of tea or coffee, or a cold drink on hot days is always welcome, as is a biscuit or two to nibble on.  More welcome, however, is the presence of someone to talk with, especially as there are usually few friendly faces around when one is awaiting a call into the courtroom.  The volunteers of Manning Valley Neighbourhood Services Inc are cheerful purveyors of refreshment and non-judgemental chat.

A coordinator, acting as link between the Manning Valley Neighbourhood Services Inc and the refreshment workers, is responsible for providing a roster of volunteer duties and contact phone numbers each six months.  This roster is provided with sufficient notice to allow them to arrange their half-yearly calendar around their duty days.  The coordinator also has the responsibility of ensuring that supplies of  goodies, including disposable cups are kept up in the storage cupboard and that moneys received  as donations from recipients are collected regularly and banked. 

ORGANISATIONAL DETAILS

The Venue:  MVNS is fortunate in having access to the Female Witness Room, a secure room with a lockable storage cupboard within the Taree Courthouse.  Consumables are kept in this room along with items such as trolley, chairs, shade umbrella and serving utensils – hot pots to carry boiling water to the serving area in the courthouse grounds.  This room is provided initially for use by women witnesses and their lawyers seeking privacy from outsiders.  Volunteers respect this and realise the need for discretion if they have to work around such people.  This applies especially to male volunteers.

The Roster:  The coordinator considers the circumstances of volunteers  when he draws up the roster – preferred day of duty, preferred partner, prior commitments.  It is observed that most volunteers prefer regular rostering – the same day of the month each time e.g. second Monday of the month, last Tuesday of the month etc.  Volunteers with school age children are not rostered during school vacations.  Any sudden changes of routine, e.g. a Monday volunteer needed on Tuesdays, are negotiated well in advance.  Volunteers are encouraged to arrange their own swaps when they are unable to attend for any individual session.  MVNS has one volunteer whose family circumstances dictate that she prefers not to be on the roster but available for relief.  Volunteers usually arrange their own relief by internal swaps but occasionally have to ask the coordinator for help.

Communication:  The team meets only once a year at the annual “Thank You” luncheon so communications must be maintained regularly.  Communication between the coordinator and volunteers is done normally by means of a message book kept in the storage cupboard.  In this book, volunteers record the need for supply top-up and other general requests and advice to the coordinator.  Phone contact is also necessary when individual needs are to be discussed – e.g. roster changes.  Whenever possible the coordinator visits the courthouse on rostered days for a chat with “his ladies”.

Supplies:  Arrangements exist to allow the coordinator to shop at a local wholesale warehouse.  Immediate supplies such as milk are the responsibility of the rostered volunteers who purchase it nearby and are reimbursed from the collected donations.

Financial:  The cost of the scheme is subsidised by voluntary donations from clients, who in no way are pressured for money.  Moneys collected are banked in a working account from which payment to suppliers is made.  Any profit (oops – surplus) is used to purchase new or replacement equipment and, at the end of the year to subsidise the Christmas luncheon.  Towards the end of the year the coordinator approaches local solicitors for donations towards the cost of the luncheon.  Currently, income covers costs.  There is no expectation of any other financial result than this.

PERCEIVED BENEFITS OF THE SCHEME

Clients:  The cup of coffee and biscuit is always welcome but the main benefit is less concrete but more important.  As a general rule, the courthouse is a very unfriendly and daunting experience for its clients.  Our volunteers are there with friendly face and a willing ear for those in need.  This feedback comes from the clients themselves.  Our ladies are very popular.

Volunteers:  The rewards for our volunteers are appreciable.  OK, so we shout them to a Christmas luncheon and they can meet each other as a group – their only chance – but that’s not what it’s all about.  Our volunteers gain in their sense of self-worth (as do most volunteers) and a feeling they are doing a job worth the effort.  One lady, resigning from the scheme for her own personal reasons, wrote:  “I have really enjoyed the expanded friendships and knowledge of the court system that being a volunteer on the trolley has brought me.  I need to say ‘thanks’ for the opportunity to feel equal with paid workers.”  This is a heart-warming success story.
Incidentally, in 2001, the Year of the Volunteer, our group was given, collectively and individually, service awards from the Prime Minister, presented jointly by the local member and the mayor.  Official recognition!

Manning Valley Neighbourhood Services Inc.

Our service, dedicated as it is to social welfare and community development, does not seek any rewards from the scheme.  Nevertheless they are there, especially the warm fuzzy feeling that comes from hearing the positive feedback and the pleasure from knowing that not only are we providing a service but we are also earning kudos for our Service.  The public in Taree is well aware of what we are doing at the Courthouse.  Good publicity never goes astray.  We have gained a happy working relationship with the staff and management of the courthouse.

For more information please call the Neighbourhood Centre on  6553 5121 and we will pass on your details to the Coordinator of the group.