THREE generations of Williamstown women have lent a combined charitable hand at the opportunity shop for more than five decades and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
The eldest volunteer and mum of the family is 97-year-old Vera Dunscombe.
Mrs Dunscombe accepted an offer to help a friend who worked at the Williamstown Hospital Opportunity Shop 30 years ago.
Today, the lively resident looks forward to her hours spent at the shop, meeting new people and all the fun and shenanigans that go with it.
“It’s just interesting you get out and meet people by working in the shop,” Mrs Dunscombe said.
The mother of five is also joined at the shop by her daughters Dawn Dunscombe and Joan Blott.
“We all have a job down there; we all know what we’re doing,” Dawn said.
Mrs Dunscombe knows what it takes to work in retail after owning and operating her own greeting card business in Williamstown for more than 30 years.
These days she prefers to sit and have a chat to customers and tally up their purchases on the register.
Joan said the shop felt like a family-run business.
“We have a good time; we enjoy it as a family always got on very well.”
The long-serving volunteer, Mrs Dunscombe encouraged other to get involved.
“I think it’s getting out and meeting people if you stay at home all the time you vegetate.”
