Stepping onto the ship in the early hours of the morning, I was greeted by a mixture of smiling and sleepy faces. Hand extended, I enthusiastically introduced myself to the crew and then proceeded to wander around the ship taking in every detail and greeting familiar faces along the way. Concluding my self-guided tour around the ship, I noticed the crew working on last minute touch-ups and cleaning; it was open boat day after all and visitors were expected. I immediately offered my services and soon found myself on all fours, cloth in one hand and a bottle of polish in the other!

On completion of my polishing session, the visitors started to trickle in. I dropped my cloth and polish for something more suitable and familiar, a clipboard and supporter sign-up sheets! With my clipboard safely tucked under one arm I led small groups around the ship stopping every few minutes to answer a barrage of questions from visitors hungry for information about Greenpeace, the ship and what we are doing.

Passing visitors onto crew members I stepped onto the bridge and admired the view. Visitors funneled themselves through the upper and lower decks of the ship exploring each and every crevice, mouths open in awe and amazement. Standing there watching friends, colleagues and crew members go about their duties I was filled with a sense of loyalty and pride. It was then that I came to a realization; we are not just volunteers but part of something much larger. We are part of a team of people, all of whom are dedicated to a common goal: to create lasting change through actions and solutions, for the benefit of our delicate environment. We are part of the team that proudly bears the name Greenpeace.