In honour of National Volunteer Week and the inaugural Port Macquarie awards, the Independent invited a cross-section of volunteers to provide short profiles, containing a few words about themselves and what they get out of volunteering.
Philippa Reiss – Douglas Vale Historic Homestead.
My husband and I relocated to Port Macquarie 16 years ago from Sydney. Since then I have been passionate about volunteering. I have volunteered at several places in Port including Leisure Link, CWA, Mingaletta Uniting Care Aged Care facility and Douglas Vale Historic Homestead and Vineyard.
Volunteering provides you with such a wide range of activities, different peoples and interests. It enables you to become involved in areas that you may not have been involved in during your working life.
At Douglas Vale I have been working with the “events” team to arrange garage sales, organise functions such as Fair Days and other celebrations throughout the year.
Volunteering is fun and satisfying.”
Geoff Workman – Port Macquarie Rotary
I have been the club’s book sale media officer for the past three years and have been the club’s Rotary Bowelscan co-ordinator on three separate occasions.
I have notched up more than 25 years Rotary Club membership and have enjoyed every bit of it – with the emphasis on fun, fellowship and community service.
Mirjana Sajko – gardener, Port Macquarie Neighbourhood Centre.
My family migrated to Australia from Croatia when I was 15. I moved to Port Macquarie almost a year ago. Being new to the area I decided to volunteer to meet new people and I am a volunteer gardener for the Neighbourhood Centre.
I really enjoy helping the centre out because they do so much for the community. The staff and other volunteers at the centre have welcomed me and help me to feel a part of our community. Volunteering has been a great way of building up my confidence and skills. Volunteering in the garden really makes me feel appreciated.
Susan Thomson – administration, Port Macquarie Neighbourhood Centre.
I have been volunteering at the Port Macquarie Neighbourhood Centre in an admin role for almost four years, having previously spent 12 months volunteering with a local Neighbourhood Centre in Brisbane.
I started volunteering initially as a way to fill in my spare time when I stopped working. I continue to volunteer as I feel I am contributing to my local community and I have great respect for the work done by the centre and for the people who work here.
Denise Onslow – motivation programs, Catholic Care
I enjoy the satisfaction that I am being a companion to others and helping maintain their present lifestyle.
I have volunteered for more than 18 years, in the Tweed area and since moving to Port Macquarie in early 2012 I have continued volunteering and intend to keep going as long as I am able to, knowing that what I do is helping someone.
I presently volunteer within Catholic Care of the Aged at Emmaus and assist through reality, motivation programs.
My music activities are great fun as I only have to say a line from a song and the residents join in. I truly love to see the satisfaction on the faces of the people I am helping, knowing they get pleasure and contentment from the time I spend with them is wonderful.
Phoebe Crane – telephone crisis support, Lifeline
Volunteering allows me to contribute to my community and is driven by my desire to live in a community that cares for each other, where giving comes naturally and where sharing is the norm. In order to have this dream become reality I know that I have to do my share.
I started volunteering for Lifeline in 2000. I volunteer as a telephone crisis supporter, in shift support and group facilitator.
Taking calls from people in crisis and working with them on ways to change their situation is a privilege. There is no better sound than the relieved voice of a previously distraught caller.
Ted Kasehagen – Maritime Museum.
I give my time as a volunteer because I retired from full employment back in late 1996. That’s when I moved from the Central Coast to live here in Port.
At that time I devoted much of my spare time to gardening as we had bought acreage on a rural site and gardening was one of my main pastimes. Then one day I was asked if I would be interested in doing some volunteer work at the Maritime Museum at the top end of William Street.
I had always been interested in Australian history but had never considered learning more about our maritime history. When I joined the team of volunteers at the museum I quickly realised that there was plenty of maritime history right here in Port.
Since 2006 when I became a member of the museum I wanted others to realise and appreciate all of this fascinating, local history that I was learning about. A museum is a great way for anyone to do just that. Walk through our front door today and you can see some of our yesterdays.
Jennifer Brown – animal foster carer, Port Macquarie Animal Welfare Service
At present I have seven cats in care. The animals are cared for in our own homes as one of the family, with the TLC they receive they adjust to new homes very well.
It’s a most rewarding experience to see an unwanted animal rehomed and have the opportunity to be a loved family pet.
I enjoyed various types of volunteering from school canteen supervisor and treasurer, playgroup founding member, school library assistant, Neighourhood Aid, Info Shop, Meals on Wheels, Delta Safe Pets, Fawna, also fund-raising, and caring for animals for two other animal welfare organisations.
