Roly Webb has spent half of his life as a volunteer with the Balmoral Sailing Club. His passion for sailing mirrors his dedication to keeping boats in shape and people connected.
Retired engineer Roly Webb may not remember the exact date he started as a volunteer for the Balmoral Sailing Club, but for the 77-year-old, it was an opportunity to do something useful and give something back to the community.
“It grew on me, and now it’s almost like a second family,” Roly says. “Some people have learned to sail here and are now retirees who still come down to the club. It’s one of those things that it’s just part of my life now.”
His days as a volunteer started almost 30 years ago when Roly and his wife were part of a cruising yacht group. During those visits, he had the chance to take care of the Balmoral boats and take some courses, getting him more involved with the club activities.
“My engineering background made me well-suited to look after the infrastructure and the boats in the club,” explains Roly. “I happened to have done the coxswains course, which meant that I could drive the boats, and sometimes I even partake in some training.”
To Roly, the experience is about giving back and people’s self-growth: “Seeing young sailors develop, that’s a good day out on the water.
“It’s an opportunity to give back and it’s a feeling of satisfaction when you do things right. There are plenty of community volunteers who give their time (on the Beaches), and it’s just something we as Australians do.”
As a retiree, Roly has significantly reduced his hours of volunteering to a few times a month.
“I’ve cut back a lot. I used to do a fair bit of work looking after the clubhouse, the safety boats, and that sort of thing. I’m finding I’m less able to make the time now. I do crewing on the rescue boats now, which is about once or twice a month.”
Despite this, he maintains his light-hearted spirit full of optimism, enjoying every single visit. “(I will keep coming for) as long as my body lets me! I’m physically getting less able, which is a bit distressing as the arthritis is setting in. But other than that, I’ll keep going as long as I can.
“I’m a retiree, and you need a social outlet. This is a community, it’s a volunteer-run club. So it’s an opportunity to do something useful a couple of days a week. It’s fun to be part of it and to interact with a lovely bunch of people. If you’re sitting at home staring at four walls, don’t count down to the clock. We’ll find something for you to do,” he says with a smile.
To volunteer or learn to sail, contact the Balmoral Sailing Club.