Perth Observatory Volunteer Group is an incorporated independent body that assists
Perth Observatory with its Mission.
The volunteer programme was established at Perth Observatory in 1996 in order to
provide opportunities for the public to become more involved in Perth Observatory activities,
and for these people to assist in these activities. In 2002, the Volunteer Group became
incorporated with the aim to obtain funding from external sources in order to further their
work. Currently about 30 people are members of the Volunteer Group and contribute the
equivalent of nearly one extra full-time staff member to the Observatory.
Recognition
The fine activities and achievements of the Volunteer Group were formally
recognised in 2001 with the award of $1,000 by the National Australia Bank
CommunityLink Programme. Only 109 of the 2,703 nominations (Australia-wide)
won awards, and the Perth Observatory Volunteers Group was the only HIGHLY
RECOMMENDED winner in the Recreation category. They were also awarded a
$3,600 International Year of the Volunteer grant from the Commonwealth
Department of Family and Community in 2001. Apparently 17,000 organisations
applied; 2,835 were successful and only 263 of those successful were based
in WA. Most notably, they were also awarded a $15,000 grant from the Lotteries
Commission Gordon Reid fund in order to obtain equipment that would assist
us to integrate disabled people into the Observatory's Star Viewing Night
programme. In 2009, The Volunteer Group was awarded $4,400 worth of funding for volunteer equipment
and fuel subsidies.
Current Volunteer Projects
Current projects involve;
- assisting permanent staff with the public star viewing sessions,
- archiving and preserving historical documents,
- rearranging the library, inputting the library database onto computer, and
- assisting at open days and displays.
How do I join?
The Perth Observatory Volunteer Group engages the Perth Observatory to use its expertise
in order to recruit more volunteers to its ranks. So those interested should send a written
application (or ) to the Perth Observatory Director, and Volunteer Co-ordinator, Dr James Biggs.
The applicant should outline;
- why they wish to become part of the volunteer programme,
- what skills, qualifications or experience they possess,
- what realistic amount of time they can contribute, and
- anything else that they think is relevant.
Please note that the qualification requirement is not really very strict
- what is really important is simply the desire to assist the Perth Observatory.
Interviews are conducted with applicants short listed from their written
applications around September in most years. Vast astronomical knowledge is
not required as successful applicants are trained for the project (or projects)
in which they wish to participate. Furthermore, ongoing training is provided
at the monthly volunteer group meeting and as required.
Also note, that volunteer work at Perth Observatory may entail working with
children. So in order to comply with the law all volunteers are required
to undertake the WA government's Working With Children Check once they
have been accepted into the Volunteer Group.
Volunteer 'REWARDS'
Most volunteers say that their biggest reward is just to be able to become more involved in
astronomy and the company of other like-minded people. However, Observatory volunteers have
been 'rewarded' by participating in many interesting Observatory activities, such as:
- Viewing Comet Hale-Bopp from Scarborough Beach, 1997
- Annular Solar eclipse trip to Greenough, 1999
- Leonid meteor watch, 1999
- Senior First Aid courses, 1999 and 2002
- Basic fire fighting training, 2000
- Star viewing at Bimbijy Station (400km NE of Perth) 2001
- Lunar Eclipse observing, 1999 and 2000
- Total Solar eclipse expedition to Ceduna, 2002
- Visit to ESA deep space communications facility, New Norcia, 2003
- Visit to Horizons planetarium, 2004.
