Inspiring Volunteer Stories

Meet Victor

Meet Charmaine and Verna

Charmaine D’Costa and Verna Dalton volunteer at the Music and Memories event at Blue Gum Community Centre, which is a music and yoga event for people living with dementia and their carers.

The two volunteers both play the piano, while Charmaine takes charge for the yoga portion of the event.

Verna said playing piano for the Music and Memories attendees was an amazing feeling.

“Sometimes people say they haven’t heard their relative sing for years and that gives you such a lift,” she said.

Charmaine said when she was growing up, her father would play “golden oldies” such as Doris Day and Connie Francis.

“I think songs from that era, I grew up with it with my with my father and we used to have singalongs,” she said.

“I think with this group they are familiar with that era, Vera Lynn and similar artists.”

“It’s lovely because we have a client who gets up and dancing, I played the song You Are My Sunshine and one got teary because it brought back memories. 

“They are singalong songs that they enjoy.”

Meet Marea

A green thumb with a good cause!

From helping out with sausage sizzles to making sure the gardens at the Willagee Community Centre are looking pretty, Marea Lundgren has been a valued volunteer for more than a decade.

Marea says she feels proud to volunteer and likes getting appreciation from her fellow community members.

She says she loves planting flowers as it adds vibrancy to neighborhood and helps her feel positive.

Her fellow community members often tell her how lovely it is to see the colours from the flowers.

Along her work in the garden, she also lends a hand during film nights and other activities at the community centre.

Meet Alan

I am a volunteer visitor with the Melville Cares, Community Visitors Scheme (CVS). Volunteer visits are arranged by Melville Cares CVS to provide companionship and friendship to elderly members of our community who may be socially isolated or mobility impaired.  Part of my post-retirement plan was to try and make a difference to people’s lives in order to improve their quality of life.

Melville Cares attempts to get a good match between people. In my case the match is perfect. I normally visit an elderly gentleman at one of the local aged care premises once a week; however, due to the current COVID-19 protocol we keep in contact by letter. We have much in common as I spent a year or so living in the same town where he had lived for many years and it is delightful hearing his stories about places in and around the town with which we are both very familiar. We also have the same sporting backgrounds and interests so it really is a very enjoyable get together. It’s true what he says, we have become good mates.

Meet Greg

This November I will commence my fourth year of volunteering for Telethon Community Cinemas at Murdoch University. I commit to one night per week and do the occasional nights at Burswood Outdoor Cinema as the need arises. My night may include volunteering in the box office, front of house, bar/candy sales, as a barista, distribution of bean bags and selling raffle tickets.

Working as a dentist for 32 years, I really enjoy the company of my fellow volunteers and the interaction with the general public. The age range of the "vollies" is from university students to retirees like myself and everyone in between. They are all highly motivated to making the cinema experience totally enjoyable for the patrons, whilst raising much needed funds for children's charities.

My involvement with Melville Volunteer Resource Centre was prompted by seeing the sign on Canning Highway in Wireless Hill Park. As I commenced retirement nine years ago, I wanted to give back to the community whilst home in Perth after travelling each year. Through the centre I have made volunteering connections with MSWA, Red Nose, RSPCA, Festival of Perth, Art Gallery Of  W.A., and Open House Perth.

Volunteering is now an important part of my life, especially now with the travel limitations due to COVID 19. It has been a great pleasure working with the different organisations, in differing locations and with like minded people who like to contribute back to society.