The volunteer spirit is alive on Macquarie street
Jean Smith is an eighty one year old great grandmother who has been volunteering at ANGLICARE’s Parramatta shop for more than eight years.
Mrs Smith as she is known at the shop has osteoporosis and leukaemia, but that doesn’t stop her from helping others.
“Even though I can’t walk around and use the till or vacuum the floors, I still sit and hang clothes back on hangers and chat to the customers who are buying clothes for their family.”
Mrs Smith volunteers every Monday, Wednesday and Friday because it coincides with the school times of her intellectually handicapped grandson.
Mrs Smith has been the full time carer of her grandson since he was fifteen months old, he is now thirty two years old and keeps her busy when she is not volunteering.
“My grandson definitely occupies a lot of my time but while he is at school I love working at theshop. I would have to say Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are my favourite days of the week.”
ANGLICARE’s Parramatta shop manager Dolores O’Rourke believes it is people like Mrs Smith and other volunteers that make the Parramatta community a better place.
“We have seven regular volunteers who work with complete love and sacrifice.”
“Mrs Smith is an integral part of our team. I admire what she does and what she’s been through, she just keeps going and going. I really aspire to be like her.”
ANGLICARE Sydney currently has approximately 1550 volunteers helping in various services. However, only one quarter of these can volunteer weekly. ANGLICARE is aware that time commitment is an issue for many people.
“It is great the number of people volunteering is on the rise, however, the nature of volunteering is changing. Many volunteers are now interested in short term, project based work, rather than long term commitment” says ANGLICARE Sydney’s volunteer support manager, Alison Keene.
“We are keen to adapt to these changes, so we can tap into the skills people have to offer us. ANGLICARE is all about making relationships in communities, so we still need to find volunteers who are in for the long haul” she says.
The theme for this year’s National Volunteer Week is ‘Volunteers Change Our World’. With this in mind Alison Keene believes it is important the public recognise the positive effect volunteers have on a community.
“Without volunteers numerous services and programs could not continue. We need to realise they enrich the community and are a valuable asset to the Australian way of life.”
According to Mrs Smith the best job in the world besides being a great grandmother is being a volunteer.
“Volunteering makes me happy on the inside. You don’t need to be paid money when you can see the great changes you are making in the lives of others.”
For more information on how to become a volunteer in one of ANGLICARE’s many community programs please contact Alison Keene on – 02 9895 8049
For more information contact, Bridgette Godden, Media Officer, on 9895 8138 or 0411 779 337
