Long-time Bundaberg resident Joan Strohfeldt always said she wouldn’t stop when she retired as she wanted to keep giving back to the community.
So, when Joan saw a Facebook advertisement looking for volunteers at Mater Private Hospital Bundaberg she was quick to reach out and show her interest.
“I couldn’t not do anything – I just like to help out if I see an opportunity to help,” she said.
“Even the little things … I have a friend who has dementia that’s quickly deteriorating, and I take her for a coffee and a drive and a walk at the beach.
“I just want to be seen as someone who is happy to help when needed.”
The 70-year-old Innes Park resident is one of the hundreds of volunteers being celebrated by Mater across its state network this National Volunteer Week (20-26 May) for the important roles they play not only within the hospital, but also within the broader community.
The mother-of-three, grandmother-of-seven and soon-to-be great grandmother-of-two has always been an active member of her community, having previously volunteered for parent support groups and schools.
“One of the things I always think of after family is our community – it just helps people in ways we can never fully understand,” Joan said.
“It’s also a great way to keep active, interact with people and stay connected with the community.”
Joan was a public servant for 36 years, having spent time working within the Department of Education, the Queensland Police Service and the Department of Housing.
“So, I’d never really worked in the health sector, but I had been a patient at Mater for various things over the years,” she said.
Now, every Tuesday and Thursday morning, Joan collates form and information packs for the various units across the hospital.
“So, I do everything from the pre-admission packs to the form packs for the various procedures people are coming in for,” she said.
“It’s something I can do and leave the more important things for the staff to do, but I genuinely do enjoy it!
“And my ‘pack room’ is near the kitchen, so the staff there often come and tell me when there are hot cross buns for Easter and those sorts of things, and I get visitors popping in to say hi, which is great fun.”
To learn more about volunteering at Mater click here or email volunteers@mater.org.au.
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