National volunteer week 2022

John and Janet from Mitchelton

Janet Kuilboer has been with us for over 20 years, Janet’s first 10 years was as a staff member caring for our

John and Janet receiving their 'giving tree' certificates

residents, after retiring Janet came back as a Pastoral volunteer. Janet said that she still remembers her first day as a volunteer, walking in and seeing the response from the residents when they saw her, big smiles and cheering. Janet loves coming in each week.

John Biddle is a volunteer for Lifestyle and Pastoral, he started with us in 2013, previous to being a volunteer his mother was one of our residents. John said that after his mother passed he wanted to come in and volunteer because he realised what an important job volunteers do.  John continues to volunteer because he sees the happiness on the residents faces and it gives him a real sense of purpose.

The certificate volunteers received was inspired by “the giving tree”, residents were asked for words that describe our volunteers, which we then put on the tree.

Del Doherty from Bardon

Del receiving her bag of goodies for National Volunteer Week. Thanks Del!

 

Del Doherty lived most of her life in the academe. With a doctorate in bio-chemistry from the Australian National University and a post-doctoral degree from Brandeis University in Massachusetts, she taught the same subject at the University of Queensland for 30 years.

Upon retiring from her professorship, she became a Pastoral Care Volunteer at Bardon, visiting bed and room bound residents for prayer and Communion for 20 years until 2020. Del has touched the lives of so many past and present residents with her deep faith and loving kindness. Thank you Del for being a sign and bearer of God's love for us all!

Pauline Graham from Bardon

 

Pauline helping out in the gardens at Bardon

At 90, Bardon volunteer Pauline Graham has no intention of slowing down and will continue to wear her many hats. She's mother, grandmother, great grandmother, parish walking group leader, mental health and climate change advocate, listening ear, shoulder to cry on, and so much more.

The hat she wears most proudly though is her St. Vincent's Care volunteer hat. Whether she's assisting residents on their outings and shopping trips, visiting the sick in hospitals, accompanying them to their doctor's appointments, or leading church liturgies, Pauline is truly a sign and bearer of God's love to all. Thanks, Pauline!