Secret Harbour resident Karen Goodbody has volunteered her time for 16-years to different community groups and, in turn, has improved her “self-worth”.
The Mail spoke to Ms Goodbody to celebrate National Volunteer Week 2018, that runs until Sunday.
Ms Goodbody has volunteered in canteens, uniform-shops and has been “heavily involved” in the local football club’s executive committee.
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She has been with St John Ambulance in Mandurah, for just short of two-years as a patient transport driver for elderly patients, and said it was her “most rewarding” role.
“You might be the only person they speak to in the week,” she said. “They love chatting.”
And Ms Goodbody has done all of this while working full-time or part-time jobs on the side.
“As much as I am a very busy person, I still make the time to do it and love it,” she said. “I like giving back to the community and I feel like it gives me so much self worth.”
Ms Goodbody said many Mandurah residents were not aware of how they could help and the many different ways they could volunteer.
“It’s not on their radar,” she said. “Volunteers at St John have to work a minimum one shift a fortnight.
“There’s organisations you could help out once-a-month. It’s just so rewarding.”
St John community transport manager Cheryl Bushe-Jones said the transport service was run solely on volunteers.
“We provide the service at a low-cost fee to the community,” she said. “We have a high-need in Mandurah and would be happy to welcome new volunteers.”
For more information on volunteering in WA, visit www.volunteeringwa.org.au.
Carla Hildebrandt
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
Journalist at the Mandurah Mail
