Volunteer snapshot: Margaret
Published on 18 May 2022
To mark National Volunteer Week (May 16 to May 22), we caught up with some Northern Tasmanian volunteers to find out what drives them.
If you'd like to find out more about volunteering opportunities in your local area, visit the Volunteering Tasmania website at volunteeringtas.org.au or the Volunteering Australia website at www.volunteeringaustralia.org
Meet Margaret, a volunteer with Launceston Volunteers for Community, who generously made some time to answer our questions about her experiences as a volunteer...
What does your role involve?
I am a Launceston Volunteers For Community driver and I transport people from their home to their destination whether it’s for a social, medical, shopping or other appointment. This helps eligible people, within the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) and Home and Community Care Program (HACC) target groups, when they need it.
How did you get into volunteering?
When I returned to Tasmania with my husband I was required by the government to look for a job. I was over 60 and I didn’t have much luck, but Centrelink told me an alternative was to volunteer each week to meet my obligation to the government. I logged my interest with Volunteering Tasmania and looked for something I thought I’d enjoy doing. I’ve been with LVFC for about 5 years. Even though I don't need to meet the government requirement anymore, I still volunteer.
What do you get out of it?
When I worked in Aged Care and Disability, we relied heavily on volunteers, so I'd always planned to give back to my community once I had more time. I didn’t realise how much I would enjoy helping people and being social each day. I do it now because it’s a really important part of staying active and social, not only for the people we are helping, but for myself. It’s easy to become cocooned in your own, usual routine, but often I'm driving the same people every week, so you get to know each individual and I’ve built great rapport with some wonderful people. A definite bonus is that I really know my way around Launceston now!
What’s a typical day look like when you’re volunteering?
Initially, when I had the government obligation, I did 2 days a week, but now I just do one day a week. We have four vehicles. When we arrive we do a vehicle check, then we get a run-sheet that tells us where we need to be for pickup, as well as the appointment time. At the end of the appointment the person will call the office, and the next available car will receive a call to pick them up, so sometimes we do get re-routed. There are usually 8 to 12 people I help with transport each day that I volunteer.
Tell us more about the organisation you volunteer with?
Launceston Volunteers for Community transport for older people, people with a disability and their carers who meet the criteria. They also provide a lawn mowing service, a shopping service and we also do social outings, for example on weekends we might go to the Evandale Market. Individuals who live on their own might be socially isolated so this can be a big help.
What’s one life lesson you’ve learned from volunteering?
Accept individuals as they are. Don’t put your own expectations or boundaries onto other people. You don’t know their full circumstances. You haven’t walked in their shoes. Just accept people, help people and be kind. Helping people will reward you ten-fold in the most unexpected ways.
What would you say to people who are thinking of volunteering?
I’d encourage them to get into volunteering. It can be the most wonderful, rewarding experience. I thought I was helping people, but it’s really helped me along the way too. It keeps me social, and engaged in my community. It helps me to feel useful. Just find a volunteering opportunity that you think it’s a good fit for you and give it a try. If you don’t like it, you can always try something else. Just have a go!