By NICOLE VALICEK
WINNING an award at this year’s Minister for Health Volunteer Awards was an honour for Vera Dunscombe who has dedicated her time to the community for three decades.
The 97-year-old was honoured at the recent 2013 Minister for Health Volunteer Awards with an Outstanding Individual Achievement Award for Volunteer Services in a Metropolitan Health Service.
Vera has been volunteering to support the Williamstown Hospital for more than 30 years, along with her two daughters, Joan and Dawn who volunteer at the health organisations op shop weekly.
She assists at the shop by sorting items donated for resale and offers updates to the customers on happenings at the local hospital.
She looks forward to her hours spent at the shop, meeting new people and talking to customers especially about the health service that she is proud to raise funds for.
“It’s interesting you get out and meet people by working in the shop,” she said.
The dedicated volunteer said she is thrilled her services have been recognised, and recognised the role of the volunteer team to raise important funds for the hospital.
The volunteer team along with Vera celebrated the handover of more than $80,000 to assist the hospital with refurbishment for the wards.
Vera was a worthy nominee and as stated in the awards nominations form “a real role model for the local community members who come into the Opportunity Shop to see active aging and dedication”.
She sees her job at the shop as more than just sorting clothes.
“Vera sees the volunteers at the Opportunity Shop as part of her family and she thinks this helps the older people in her local community to feel supported when they come into the shop,” the nomination form said.
