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Some people see volunteering as an impossible task, often saying "I don't have time", but six central Queenslanders say without volunteers the community would fall apart.
Leah Stirton is a board member for the disability support service Yumba Bimbi in Emerald.She is also busy parent and a secondary school teacher who is passionate about working with children who have special needs.
"I think the phrase 'I just don't have the time' is used so often, and I don't have the time either," Ms Stirton said.
"But if you can find it in your heart, you will find the time."Volunteering and giving back to your community was just part of normal life [growing up in Ayr] and we were surrounded by people who gave back as well.
"It wasn't actually until I was an adult and left home that I realised that not all families, and not all community groups, are as entwined as mine was."
Ms Stirton is known for organising fundraising events for multiple organisations in the Central Highlands, and she wants the younger generation to step up.
"Somebody's got to give it back or else it's not going to be there," she said."I want it to be there, my parents wanted it to be there.
"I would like the young people to try and find that time and I want to teach my children that there is always time to give back."
'It doesn't cost anything but time and effort'
High school students Libby and Ben Archer have been caring for abandoned animals through an Emerald charity, called CQ Pet Rescue, for eight years.
With the support of their parents, the siblings have contributed to an effort to save more than 800 animals from euthanasia in the Central Highlands pound.
"When they first come they're skinny, they're scared, some don't even know what grass is because they're so used to being in the pound and just being on concrete," Libby said.
The siblings raise money for the organisation to spend on pet food, vet care, and relocation costs.
Ben is balancing Year 12 studies with his volunteer work, and enjoys being pushed out of his comfort zone and meeting different people.
"You just do it because there's always more to come," he said.
"Just seeing the dogs going to a happy new home, knowing that they're going to be treated right there, is really nice to see."Their mother, Jo Archer, is proud of the teenagers for the work they have done.
"It doesn't cost anything to us but some time and effort because everything is provided by the rescue and donations that we get from the public," she said.
'It's not that hard to help out'
Netball player, umpire, coach, and a busy parent, Kristy Serotski, has been giving her time since she was 16 years old.
Ms Serotski said she found the most joy in working with children.
"I love to see the looks on their faces when they finally get a skill, when someone is even just a little bit interested in them and what they're doing, even if it's not netball," she said.
"The kids like to tell you about their life as well."[Volunteering is rewarding by] having an impact on the children and knowing that if I don't volunteer, and no-one else helps out, they don't get the opportunity."
Ms Serotski said people were often intimidated by the idea of taking on a volunteer role.
"You don't want to let anyone down and I think people shy away because they feel like they're not good enough and I feel like that too," she said.
"I've been volunteering for a long time so sometimes you think, 'Am I the right person for the job? Or am I doing this right?'
"The hardest thing is our own fear of failure."If we all pitch in a little bit and show that it's not that hard to help out a little bit, I think people gradually might join the club and help out a little bit more."
'It's good to know you helped them'
Junior sports coach, Rory Gersbach, has been a volunteer at the Emerald Karate Academy for two years.
"I teach the juniors how to do their katas [a series of moves] and, for the people who come for their first lesson, I teach them how to make a fist, punch, and their stances," he said.
"I enjoy helping the kids so that when they go to their gradings and go through their belts it's good to know that you've helped them get to their black belt."
The 13-year-old is a black belt and spends at least four hours a week training and coaching karate.
Rory competes in international and local competitions.
"I believe it's a good sport for people because it shows discipline outside of karate and inside," he said.
"I think it's important to have volunteers because there's a lot of kids, so you need more hands on deck to help."
'Sometimes the kids have toast for tea, but that's life'
Jayne Gothmann has been volunteering with the Central Highlands Crime Stoppers Area Committee since 2013.
"Once I figured out what it does, I thought it was a very worthy thing to come and support," she said.
"You can give police vital information that can lead to someone being charged or arrested.
"It's about the little pieces of the puzzle … those little bits of information that can solve crimes, even historical crimes, and help police do their job because they work damn hard."
The committee's main job is to promote the 1800 333 000 hotline and app to the local community by attending local events and handing out merchandise.
Each committee also fundraises $1,000 a year towards rewards for information.
Peter McFarlane, officer-in-charge at the Emerald police station, said the hotline was invaluable.
"The more information Crime Stoppers receives, the more information and intel that the police receive and the more crimes get solved," he said.
"It's a little bit like saying 'how many lives has a police officer saved?' We don't know.
"We arrest drink drivers, we take people off the street and we enforce the laws, detect offences but we don't know how many lives we've actually saved at the end of the day."
Ms Gothmann also works as a part-time teacher aide and she also volunteers at sporting organisations at different times of the year.
"Sometimes there's no balance. Sometimes your kids are having toast for tea and you're off doing something with Crime Stoppers or one of the other kids, but that's life," Ms Gothmann said.
"If it [life] was structured and everything was perfect, it would be so boring."I think the time that I do give to Crime Stoppers is quality time for me as a person and for me as a member of the Central Highlands community."
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