Doreen celebrates Oz honour with friends

When Doreen Welsh arrived on the Tweed in the 90s she knew no one and now she has hundreds of “friends” and is one of the region’s most valued citizens.
Doreen, who turns 70 this weekend, received an early birthday present this week after being named Tweed Shire Citizen of the Year for 2011. Doreen Welsh is coordinator and founder of the not-for-profit group, Twin Towns Friends Association.
She has being recognised for her community leadership and the tireless effort she has put into coordinating the organisation she founded in 1997 to address loneliness and isolation of older people in our community.
With the assistance of a band of 60 volunteers, the Association provides recreational and social activities to more than 200 frail, aged and socially isolated members of the Tweed community.
Tweed Mayor Councillor Barry Longland offered his congratulations to Mrs Welsh on her award.
“Doreen has battled long and hard for many years to keep this free service going for her elderly clients, and is very deserving of this recognition on Australia Day,” Councillor Longland said.
“At the core of it all, Twin Towns Friends Association is about people and relationships, and Doreen is definitely a people person who knows how debilitating loneliness can be.
“She has greatly enriched the lives of many of our elderly and lonely residents, and given her volunteers the opportunity to derive satisfaction from these relationships too,” he said.
Doreen said her volunteer work had never been about receiving honours or recognition but she was thrilled to receive the award.
“I’m gobsmacked to receive this award – over the moon and well and truly honoured,” she said adding that it was a good excuse to buy a new frock.
Doreen started the organisation after moving to the Tweed and experiencing loneliness herself when her husband, a civil engineer who came to this region to work on the bridges at Chinderah, left the area for work in northern Australia.
Volunteers are matched with clients referred to by a variety of service providers, such as aged care assessment teams, Community Health and Meals on Wheels. The volunteers then visit the elderly people in their own homes for regular chats.
She said she found there was a great need among the elderly for someone to talk to and share experiences and memories.
“Often our volunteers are the only person our clients have spoken to all day,” she said.
“We all need that social interaction – these people normally don’t see anyone, and there’s no-one to hold their hand or give them a cuddle. Human beings need that touch,” she said.
More volunteers are needed – particularly in Murwillumbah – as the association now has 200 clients across the Tweed, with some volunteers visiting up to five people. A further 15 clients are waiting for their initial interview to join the service.
While this is a great honour for Doreen she said that she hoped it would highlight the organisation and bring in more much needed volunteers.
Anyone interested in volunteering can call Doreen on (07) 5524 1841 or 0409 720 130 or email doreenfriends1@bigpond.com.
The clients are aged from 52 to 99, with many of the volunteers themselves elderly.
“My eldest volunteer is 89 and she visits two people in their seventies,” she said.
“Just because you’re elderly, it doesn’t mean you don’t have something to give.”
Doreen, who turns 70 this Saturday, is not ready to slow down herself.
“I’ve had knee surgery and lung cancer and I’ve kept going, except for when I was in hospital,” she said.
Mrs Welsh and other official Tweed Shire award winners will receive their certificates at Tyalgum on Australia Day.
The Tweed Shire Citizen of the Year and other official awards are chosen from nominations from the community by the community-based Tweed Shire Australia Day Committee.

When Doreen Welsh arrived on the Tweed in the 90s she knew no one and now she has hundreds of “friends” and is one of the region’s most valued citizens.Doreen, who turns 70 this weekend, received an early birthday present this week after being named Tweed Shire Citizen of the Year for 2011. Doreen Welsh is coordinator and founder of the not-for-profit group, Twin Towns Friends Association.She has being recognised for her community leadership and the tireless effort she has put into coordinating the organisation she founded in 1997 to address loneliness and isolation of older people in our community.With the assistance of a band of 60 volunteers, the Association provides recreational and social activities to more than 200 frail, aged and socially isolated members of the Tweed community.Tweed Mayor Councillor Barry Longland offered his congratulations to Mrs Welsh on her award.“Doreen has battled long and hard for many years to keep this free service going for her elderly clients, and is very deserving of this recognition on Australia Day,” Councillor Longland said.“At the core of it all, Twin Towns Friends Association is about people and relationships, and Doreen is definitely a people person who knows how debilitating loneliness can be.“She has greatly enriched the lives of many of our elderly and lonely residents, and given her volunteers the opportunity to derive satisfaction from these relationships too,” he said.Doreen said her volunteer work had never been about receiving honours or recognition but she was thrilled to receive the award.“I’m gobsmacked to receive this award – over the moon and well and truly honoured,” she said adding that it was a good excuse to buy a new frock.Doreen started the organisation after moving to the Tweed and experiencing loneliness herself when her husband, a civil engineer who came to this region to work on the bridges at Chinderah, left the area for work in northern Australia.Volunteers are matched with clients referred to by a variety of service providers, such as aged care assessment teams, Community Health and Meals on Wheels. The volunteers then visit the elderly people in their own homes for regular chats.She said she found there was a great need among the elderly for someone to talk to and share experiences and memories.“Often our volunteers are the only person our clients have spoken to all day,” she said.“We all need that social interaction – these people normally don’t see anyone, and there’s no-one to hold their hand or give them a cuddle. Human beings need that touch,” she said.More volunteers are needed – particularly in Murwillumbah – as the association now has 200 clients across the Tweed, with some volunteers visiting up to five people. A further 15 clients are waiting for their initial interview to join the service.While this is a great honour for Doreen she said that she hoped it would highlight the organisation and bring in more much needed volunteers.Anyone interested in volunteering can call Doreen on (07) 5524 1841 or 0409 720 130 or email doreenfriends1@bigpond.com.The clients are aged from 52 to 99, with many of the volunteers themselves elderly.“My eldest volunteer is 89 and she visits two people in their seventies,” she said.“Just because you’re elderly, it doesn’t mean you don’t have something to give.”Doreen, who turns 70 this Saturday, is not ready to slow down herself.“I’ve had knee surgery and lung cancer and I’ve kept going, except for when I was in hospital,” she said.Mrs Welsh and other official Tweed Shire award winners will receive their certificates at Tyalgum on Australia Day.The Tweed Shire Citizen of the Year and other official awards are chosen from nominations from the community by the community-based Tweed Shire Australia Day Committee.

No posts to display