As millions of people from across the Commonwealth tune into watch the XXI Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony on the Gold Coast tonight, Moree’s Lisa Reed will be doing her part to ensure the event’s smooth running.
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Lisa is one of 15,000 people volunteering for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games over the next week and a half.
The Raine and Horne Moree personal assistant has taken annual leave to spend two weeks volunteering at the Gold Coast – an opportunity she believes was too good to pass up.
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“In February last year they were calling for volunteers and I thought ‘yep, love to’,” she said.
“I volunteered at the Paralympics in Sydney in 2000 and that was just amazing – very rewarding, very humbling and a privilege to be a little cog in the wheel and just contribute.”
Lisa was one of 47,000 people who applied to volunteer, with 15,000 chosen for an array of voluntary roles – from being a meet-and-greeter, a driver, a medical volunteer, and much more.
“There are volunteers in every sport, volunteers to each of the teams, volunteers for everything you can think of,” Lisa said.
Lisa is in spectator services and will be based in the Carrara Stadium precinct where she will be rotated through various roles including welcoming and directing people.
All volunteers went through a lengthy interview and training process, involving orientation, briefings and online training components.
Lisa completed her first of 10 shifts on Monday night for the second dress rehearsal of tonight’s Opening Ceremony.
“We’re the face of the games – we want people to be happy and go home after having a good experience,” she said.
“It’s easy to be happy here though, everyone’s happy, we’re giving little kids high fives.
“It’s just amazing.”
Her next shift will be tonight working in the stadium for the Opening Ceremony, which she said is going to be “just incredible”.
“It just blows your mind,” she said.
Lisa said although it would be great to see some famous faces, she’s most looking forward to just being a part of the whole experience.
“It’d be good to see some famous people but chances of that are pretty slim. That doesn’t worry me,” she said.
“It’s just being part of the energy, which is amazing, and the pride.
“Just the team spirit and being a part of it.”
Lisa isn’t the only Moree volunteer – Julia Mitchell is also volunteering during the Games.
