By Tania Phillips
Cheryl Rodgers is a bit of a familiar face out at the Woodford Festival
“I’ve volunteered since 2014,”
“I use to go out to the festival and then my son was very big on helping the team during the build and one year I just thought – oh I’ll go out and volunteer.
“For many years I’ve done just the camping side of it, whether it be overnight or seasonal. I’ve done wrist bands but I’ve also looked after bunting through the season, that we make for the festival of the small halls. But I have also been involved with Boomerang bags Caloundra who now supply the general store with bags. Actually, I’ve just been out op shopping to get old doonas etc to recycle them for bags. It creates another community for me away from Woodford but everyone in the boomerang bags also likes being part of it (the festival).
“I do a little bit of this and a little bit of that.”
Cheryl said what keeps her coming back to Woodford every year is the fun that she has and that age is not a barrier.
“You can go off and dance to all the young bands and everyone accepts you whereas if you went into a pub where one of your favourite bands were playing, you might feel a little bit out of place,” she explained.
“You’re never out of place at Woodford.
“It is it’s only little community – there are all the back packers that come from all over the world that you get to talk to and learn a bit more about their country as well. Most people who go to Woodford have the most beautiful caring nature. They’re beautiful.
“And sometimes I like being the mum with my teams, I like to play into the role of the mum. I get a lot of massages that way,” she chuckled.
And while her son has moved away and no longer volunteers Cheryl says she has no plans to stop, still enjoying her roles at the festival.
“I’m not going to stop until they tell me I can’t do it anymore,” the 71-year-old said.
“A lot of the younger ones keep saying I stay out later than them. It’s very good, it’s a great community out there it’s just beautiful.”
Check out the Woodford website for more information about volunteering.
