2025 National Volunteers Week I Miyo Fallshaw

This week is National Volunteers Week, and Snow Australia is celebrating all the incredible volunteers by sharing the stories of those in the community.

New to the volunteer committee at Mt Buller Racing Club, Miyo Fallshaw has a passion and background for volunteering and working in the heart of the sport. 

“As a positive people person, I enjoy being involved in cultivating great community culture,” Fallshaw said. 

“A parent of two children and having run businesses, I can appreciate that so many activities and community driven activities for both kids and adults alike, require team effort to not only build momentum to get initiatives off the ground - elbow grease to keep them going no matter what the weather or market conditions and to facilitate a great experience for those participating in those activities. 

“Whilst I might occasionally be on committees helping deliberate behind the scenes, I love most volunteering on the front line, knowing that energy can be contagious and to quietly encourage people to feel the 'stoke' of having a go. 

“I’d spent many of my years at university volunteering for various community leadership development organisations, then as we had children came the volunteering roles on kinder committees, sausage sizzles at school barbeques, mother's day stalls, canteen helper, water safety at nippers, committee member on various community/school/fundraisers, backstage at dance concerts. 

“Then into gatekeeper, jump marshall, and starter at Interschools, but one of my favourite positions was the 'racer ready' starter at the Children's Carnival when it was last at Mt Buller. 

“A favourite memory at one Interschools, we were at the top of the GS course on Summit at Buller, there were 150+ kids milling about lining up ready for their moment to zoom down the course. 

“There was a timid student who was hot and cold whether they would attempt to have a go at the race course. The parent was softly, softly encouraging them, hoping they would seize the challenge and ‘have a go’. 

“Both myself and another volunteering parent were trying to find the balance of being encouraging but still give them agency to pull out if it was all too much. I whispered to the competitor - ‘did you know... that other volunteer parent helper here encouraging you is an Olympian, she's even won many World Cups and World Cup Globes for her aerial ski jumping. That lady’s name is Jacqui Cooper who is a legend of Winter Sports and is cheering you on and it doesn't matter whether you're fast or slow it's all about having a go’. 

“Umming and arring right to the start line, that competitor sucked up the courage and made it through the start wand and had a crack down the race course. It wasn't aggressive, it wasn't spectacular but it was quietly fantastic. 

“Later as we were corralling more athletes into the start area for the 2nd run the parent of the timid racer came over to say 'thanks'.”

Miyo recently attended a volunteer workshop, representing Mt Buller Race Club, and came away with many valuable insights on volunteering.

“I recently represented the Mt Buller Race Club committee for Snow Australia's Volunteer Strategy Workshop,” she said.

“There were several snowsports clubs and organisations that came together to discuss and workshop how we can manage and support volunteers. 

“We listened to each other about strategies that worked in successfully recruiting volunteers in our organisations and what methods might help in retaining that volunteer help. It was a great collaborative chat to hear the differences and similarities our organisations face in running these programs and events for our respective snowsport communities. 

“Some takeaways were being specific with the call outs of jobs/roles for volunteers, improving the education and training for volunteering, redefining the approachability and social drawcard of the experience and the importance of acknowledgement of our volunteers. 

“Our volunteers that we have at MBRC fall into three main buckets of role types: committee, fundraising and race event volunteering. 

“Many of our volunteer roles that we have at MBRC can be learnt 'on the job' when volunteering and there's great support from our club in training and education when participating and giving back to our community through volunteering.” 

Having been volunteering for many years, and across multiple areas, Miyo invites everyone to get involved in the community atmosphere - there is always something for everyone. 

“Community run organisations require the elbow grease and enthusiasm of members to keep our initiatives going,” she said. 

“Some of us and/or our children benefit from the bringing together of the community to enhance our programs. 

“It's also great for our younger members of our community to see that we're all 'putting our hands up' and the magic and momentum that can be created with the sum of our collective contributions. 

“It doesn't matter if you're new to skiing or snowboarding or a seasoned snow volunteer, many of our snowsports volunteering positions are directly helping in creating memorable snow experiences for our young and old participants whether it's DWA assisting, Interschools volunteering, or being a helping hand at a club/lodge BBQ or working bee. 

“Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, try new things and to be curious, open and encouraging - you never know you might just meet someone interesting or share a great moment in the mountain air.”