The Logan regional areas of Logan Village, Yarrabilba and Flagstone are all in a huge growth stage and as they grow the need for active volunteers becomes more of an essential requirement. One shining star in the region is dedicated and puts in the long hours.
Chyerl Pridham is a local licensed real estate agent who loves her community, and not just because its her job. Chyerl volunteers for several organisations including Logan Village Community Centre Inc as President, Logan Regional Chamber of Commerce as President, Yarrabilba Community Association as a Board Member, and the Flagstone Community Association as a Member.
If you go to a community event in those areas, you are more than likely to find Chyerl wearing one or more of her volunteer hats.
“I love where I live and work,” said Chyerl.
“The people of Logan have been given a bad rap in the media. We are a multicultural community that is in the fastest growing region of South East Queensland – we have our challenges but there are so many great things about Logan. We care about our communities and the people that live in them and we look out for one another.”
Chyerl first got involved with the Chamber of Commerce and said it was about building new networks for her business.
“I have been on the committee for the past five years, learning about all aspects of small business, communicating with all levels of government, and advocating for my community with regards to infrastructure.
“A long the way I have recognized that our small businesses needed the support of their local community, and vice a versa, so it became obvious for me to be the conduit between them.”
For over three years Chyerl and her team worked on a huge project for the area and while it was a big undertaking and challenge, in the end they were able to make it happen.
“The Youth Bus project was my biggest challenge to date. Everyone acknowledged that there was a transport issue in our area and our youth are our future employees, business owners and entrepreneurs, but how can they learn and grow if they do not have the ability to move around?
“It took three years, a lot of conversations with people before the Youth Bus was finally delivered. It was my biggest challenge to date, but also my most rewarding.”
Not everyone can volunteer but Chyerl says it is a very personal thing, and we all get something different out of it.
“Some people do it for the companionship, some do it to learn new skills or just an outing. If you have an hour or two a week, what you do in your community makes such a huge difference to others. Seeing another person smile gives me a high and a sense of accomplishment.
Like many volunteers, Chyerl does not consider herself any different to others.
“I am a wife, a mother and business partner, like so many others. I consider myself to be typical for our area. I have lived in Logan for the last 25 years and choose to live and raise my family here and wouldn’t live anywhere else.”
