A FAMILY background of giving back influenced the direction that life would take for Jill Oliver.<\/p>\n
Recently named among this year’s Great Women of Ballarat honourees, Ms Oliver has been a driving force of community service as a Rotarian, and with the Oliver Family Foundation over many years.<\/p>\n
Through her hands-on leadership and philanthropy, the long-time local has worked to improve health, housing and opportunity for innumerable people across the region and far beyond.<\/p>\n
As charter president of the Rotary Club of Alfredton, she built an innovative, women-led club and later served as assistant district governor for the Ballarat region.<\/p>\n
Ms Oliver was also central to establishing the Community Care Centre Ballarat, supporting women escaping violence and families in crisis.<\/p>\n
She revived the Apex Art Show, coordinated Eat Up Australia school lunches, spent eight years working with the international organisation Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children, and led major aid shipments to Vanuatu.<\/p>\n
In recent days, Ms Oliver was in the process of packing a fourth container of aid.<\/p>\n
“Through my contacts whilst volunteering for Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children, I was initially given a wishlist from Dr Thyna Oreally, head of paediatrics in Vanuatu to outfit 20 kindergartens and 15 medical outposts,” she said.<\/p>\n
“My motivation to do good in the community here and overseas stems from my family background.<\/p>\n
“Both my parents were givers. Dad was a fellow Rotarian for over 40 years, first in Colac then Wendouree, then he was instrumental in forming the now Alfredton Rotary Club.<\/p>\n
“Even though not as active in the last five years he took an interest in the club until he passed at the ripe old age of 99-and-a-half last year.<\/p>\n
“My mother was a wonderful support to Dad and was always baking to give away. She never went anywhere empty-handed. She was a strong, kind, generous and very active individual always putting others before herself.”<\/p>\n
Ms Oliver has called Ballarat home since 1979 and now acts in an advisory capacity on the Oliver Family Foundation.<\/p>\n
“I’ve been very fortunate that the board has accepted my recommendations in funding many local projects,” she said.<\/p>\n
Beneficiaries include a truck for Ballarat Regional Industries, a housing unit for McCallum Disability Services, Uniting Vic\/Tas Breezeway meals program, a walk-in cool room for the Uniting Emergency response centre, and more recently medical equipment for both St John of God and Grampians Health hospitals.<\/p>\n
“The concept of the Community Care Centre was the brainchild of fellow Rotarian Gary Morgan,” she said.<\/p>\n
“I’m very happy he involved me in the early planning stages as I believed in the project wholeheartedly.<\/p>\n
“Helping those less fortunate than oneself is what it’s all about. These days I help wherever needed, driving the truck to collect donated goods, moving furniture, sorting donated goods or cleaning.<\/p>\n
“My most rewarding and memorable experience was when I greeted a father and young boy who had come from interstate with nothing.<\/p>\n
“The young boy said that was the best day of his life. They were so grateful for what we could provide.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A FAMILY background of giving back influenced the direction that life would take for Jill Oliver. Recently named among this year’s Great Women of Ballarat honourees, Ms Oliver has been a driving force of community service as a Rotarian, and with the Oliver Family Foundation over many years. Through her hands-on leadership and philanthropy, the […]<\/p>\n