Now the Festivale chairman, Mr Dunn joined Rural Youth in 1992 after working on Flinders Island for two years.

“I was in my early 20s and came off Flinders knowing I needed to meet people, so I joined Rural Youth. The rest is history,” he said.

Not long into his Rural Youth membership Mr Dunn volunteered at Agfest and then became a committee member.

“After volunteering at Agfest I saw the benefits young people can bring to an event,” he said.

“Young people’s ideas are coming through all the time. I never once heard ‘you can’t do that’. Everyone is allowed to put their ideas forward.”

Volunteering gives people the opportunity to gain confidence and expertise in an area, but also the chance to “think outside the square”, he said.

Over his 12 years with Agfest, Mr Dunn took on many voluntary positions including promotion, ticket box, catering manager, treasurer and vice chairman before becoming the Agfest chairman in 2006.

Mr Dunn recalls how different the Quercus Park site was more than 25 years ago when Agfest moved there from Symmons Plains.

“In the early days we had one ticket box and one car park. One year we had a bumper crowd and our neighbours gave us permission to use their land, so at 11am on the Saturday we were cutting fences, waving cars into a paddock and selling tickets off the back of a flat-tray ute,” he said.

“Back then all the craft exhibits were in marquees. Down the track we took the plunge and built the sheds.”

Over time, more of Agfest’s Carrick site became powered, but there were still sections run by generator.

“The site has grown, but infrastructure costs are always a huge burden,” Mr Dunn said.

Any expansion plans were always undertaken on the assumption that the site would eventually be fully powered and serviced by roads.

After his time with Agfest, Mr Dunn moved his focus to other events, including Evandale Village Fair, New Year on Royal and Festivale.

He has been involved with Festivale for the past 13 years, two as chairman, and has noticed the event’s focus change in that time.

“With Festivale we’re doing things now that would not have thought of 12 years ago,” he said.

Looking at the skills he has developed through volunteering, Mr Dunn lists event management, negotiation and people skills among his experience.

“I really developed my event management skills,” he said.

He recommends volunteering for anyone looking to gain new skills, or meet new people.

“If people are interested in getting involved and are under 30, Rural Youth is good, or if they have a passion for food and wine they could come to see us [at Festivale], or get involved in a sporting group or environmental group,” Mr Dunn said.

“I’m always amazed by the passion of local people who put their hand up [to volunteer]. You shouldn’t be scared to put your hand up – we’re always happy to welcome new people.”

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