Murray Wall (right) with his Big Brothers Big Sisters match, Rory (Left). (Submitted photo/Kathryn Carswell)

By Angie Rolheiser

National Volunteer week

Over 40 years of volunteering for Melfort’s Murray Wall

Apr 25, 2021 | 2:08 PM

It is National Volunteer week and northeastNOW is featuring community volunteers who go above and beyond all year round.

An over forty-year career of volunteering in the Melfort area is in the spotlight to end off National Volunteer Week.

Murray Wall joined the Melfort Elks in the early 1980s and his community involvement has grown from there.

“I think it is important for people to stay involved in their community, we have to show the next generation and influence them to get involved,” Wall said.

Lending a helping hand whenever possible at different community events without a second thought tends to be the reaction for Wall.

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He was a vital part in the refounding of the Melfort chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters which ran in the area for about nine years. Being on hand and assisting with Chase the Ace events, volunteering at summer games, and helping build ball diamonds in the city are other highlights for Wall over the years.

“The Chase the Ace was so good for the community in terms of coming together to work with other organizations,” Wall said. “It was a great opportunity to meet new people and the different volunteers. It was just so good.”

A very proud moment for Wall over the year has been being part of the revitalization of Stovel Park.

“It was quite an undertaking for the Elks and we are pretty proud of that achievement,” Wall said.

Murray Wall (far left) along with fellow Melfort Elk members cut the ribbon on the revitalized Stovel Park in Melfort in the summer of 2019. (Angie Rolheiser/northeastNOW staff)

The Elks aren’t as active as they have been in the past due to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with that comes the struggle of building up membership.

“COVID has been very hard on us, we have nothing going on which is sad,” Wall said. “Hopefully that will change with the vaccines being rolled out.”

While the Elks are experiencing inactivity, Wall has increased his involvement with the Melfort Legion.

“It has been tough on me because I am a very social person,” Wall said. “Luckily, our Legion group has been able to get together on a regular basis with having a facility.”

Fellow Melfort volunteers that Wall wanted to tip his hat off to during volunteer week is Kathryn Carswell, Gail Marie Anderson, Trent and Chad Fedorychka, Jim Graham, John Wade, and Bart Bessey.

A message for the community as a whole from Wall is to get involved with a group, support the community, and show support for local businesses who are often relied on for sponsorship for events and projects.

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angie.rolheiser@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser