The four were recently recognised for their extensive contribution in the form of a special MercyCare service pin that acknowledged their years of volunteering – Joan for 25 years; Liz for 20 years; and Chris and Laura for more than 10 years.
Liz, who resides at Mercy Village in Wembley, began volunteering at MercyCare Wembley Residential Aged Care Home in 2001.
“My husband was a resident there at the time and I used to visit every day. After he passed away, I realised how much I wanted to help the other residents who were there,” Liz, 84, said.
“I started volunteering once a week, I’d help with the crossword group. Then eventually I’d help run Bingo every Monday.”
For Liz, listening to the residents’ life stories is what she enjoyed most about her volunteer role.
“I just love talking to people, I’ve met some residents who have led really interesting lives,” Liz said.
“I’ve met orthopaedic surgeons, academics and teachers, and they all have such great stories to tell.”
Also a Mercy Village resident, 90-year-old Joan began volunteering at MercyCare in the late 1990s.
She began volunteering for MercyCare’s regular book sales before taking on admin duties in the heritage team.
It wasn’t until 2019 that she began volunteering at the Wembley Home, hosting Monday afternoon Bingo sessions.
A former teacher, Joan said one of her most memorable moments as a MercyCare volunteer was helping an 8-year-old-boy learn to read.
“I just remember how he had told me a year later how he could read, and it was such a lovely moment,” Joan said.
For 92-year-old Chris, his volunteer days began more than a decade ago but his first visit to the Wembley home was as a pastoral minister in the early 1990s.
“I was invited to come to Ursula House,” Chris recalled. “I started hosting services for residents with dementia at the chapel.”
Twice a month for the past decade, Chris and Laura have been hosting services for residents at MercyCare’s Wembley chapel.
Over the years, Chris got to know many of the residents who saw him as a friend, so much so that many of the residents’ families would ask him to host their funeral services.
“Volunteering at MercyCare has given me a purpose to show love and care to great people who have given their best and now need some care themselves.
“I have been privileged to help them worship in the chapel at MercyCare.”
Having volunteered alongside Chris, Laura, 91, has also enjoyed the many friendships she has made during the past decade of volunteering the Wembley home.
“I really enjoy hearing all their stories,” Laura said.
MercyCare Volunteer Lead Tanya Filevski said the time and effort contributed by Joan, Liz, Laura and Chris over the years is invaluable.
“We are so grateful to have such wonderful volunteers who genuinely enjoy making a difference to the lives of our service users,” Tanya said.
“It is so heart-warming to see the difference they’ve not only made to others’ lives, but also their own.”
Want to know more about volunteering opportunities at MercyCare? Check it out here.
