Vision Australia to honour long-serving volunteers

COLL Spark says he enjoys being a part of the community as a volunteer with Vision Australia Radio in Geelong for the past 15 years, while Anne Scaddan says her Vision Australia volunteer work still satisfies her.

Coll, Anne and eight other volunteers will be recognised for 15 years of volunteering at a celebration next week for all its Geelong volunteers, with awards presented by Vision Australia chief executive officer Ron Hooton.

Coll, from Barwon Heads, has multiple sclerosis but remains a volunteer reader with Vision Australia Radio, reading newspaper stories for people who are blind or have low vision.

“I do it because I like getting out and meeting other people, and feeling that I’m doing something somewhere, even though I need a bit of help myself,” he said.

“Just on the odd occasion, I come across someone at a gathering somewhere who listens, who knows my name, who knows my voice, and you come to understand that at least some people get an advantage our of Vision Australia Radio.”

Anne is a volunteer announcer on Vision Australia Radio and, for the past four years, has also worked in Vision Australia Geelong’s Wednesday recreation group, where she reads newspapers to clients and plays Scrabble with them.

“I read about it through Volunteers Geelong and thought it would be good,” she says.

“I get satisfaction from helping people, and the social side is really nice.”

Vision Australia Barwon South West regional business manager Yvette Gollmer says the organisation celebrated its volunteers because they played a vital role.

“We couldn’t offer all the activities and services we do without the support of our dedicated volunteers. Our volunteers support us in so many roles – as drivers, keeping Vision Australia Radio running here in Geelong, in administration support, assisting with food preparation and craft activities. They make such a difference to Vision Australia and our hundreds of clients across the Geelong region.”

Fellow volunteers Elaine Hunter, Barbara Fairbrother, Ian Donald, Pamela Harrison, Kate Parke, Ian Williams, Gloria Dodgshun and Paul Johnson will also be awarded for 15 years of volunteer service at the event, to be held at the Eastern Hub in Geelong on Monday, May 14 from 4-6pm.