Couldn't agree with you more but this role would have been outsourced years ago, the budget clipped year after year until just grass cutting twice a year was left and that's that.
There are many roles that people do that COULD be done by a paid employee, but once dropped they're unlikely to...
... and Samaritans, Hospital Volunteer Drivers, Meals on Meals, School Readers, RNLI, RSPCA, Blind Dogs, etc etc etc etc etc etc. When people is society volunteer they demonstrate the importance of this to others, they take pride in their community and it's for the betterment of everyone...