VOLUNTEERS at Heathcote Community House have been busy this year, culminating in a Christmas display on show during the festive season.<\/p>\n
Throughout 2023, painting and construction works gave the house a face lift.<\/p>\n
Sylvia Crewe started volunteering at the house in May, working in many areas, and especially utilising her craft skills.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore moving to Heathcote I was an event florist by trade and have worked in several major hotels,\u201d said Ms Crewe.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love what I do and it\u2019s great to be able to do something that others enjoy. I hope people will come along and have their photos taken with the nutcracker and other displays.<\/p>\n
\u201cMuch of the Christmas display has been created with recycled and donated items.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Crewe\u2019s parents have lived in the area for 40 years and she joined them earlier this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am really enjoying being at community house,\u201d she said. \u201cEveryone is accommodating, and I\u2019ve met many new people.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere have been a lot of compliments on the decorations and my goal is to extend the displays into the main street next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very grateful to the crafty ladies\u2019 group for their donations and HQV Bargains for the discount they gave us on the things we needed to buy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I can be of any help to anyone wanting ideas for their decorations, I am happy to help.\u201d<\/p>\n
Charlie Bongailis moved to Heathcote three years ago from the Melbourne suburb of Macleod but had been regularly visiting with his wife Monica for 24 years.<\/p>\n
\u201cI enjoy living here,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a great place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Bongailis has been assisting with gardening, painting and general maintenance since 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve made a lot of friends and it\u2019s nice to have a chat with the different people who come to the house,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m here two days a week and really like what I do.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy favourite thing I\u2019ve made is the picket fence at the entrance. I think it looks really welcoming.\u201d<\/p>\n
Volunteers are appreciated at the community house and anyone interested is welcome.<\/p>\n
\u201cSylvia and Charlie, as well as many others, have done some marvellous things at Heathcote Community House,\u201d said volunteer coordinator Mandy Shelley.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe value all our volunteers for the time they put into helping us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Volunteers are needed in the garden, kitchen, front of house and for administration work and maintenance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the New Year we are hoping more people will come along to offer their particular skills or learn some new ones,\u201d Ms Shelley said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are a friendly bunch and anyone interested will be made very welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n
If you would like to volunteer at the house, call 5433 2820 or drop in to 55 Hospital Street, weekdays between 9am and 3pm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
VOLUNTEERS at Heathcote Community House have been busy this year, culminating in a Christmas display on show during the festive season. Throughout 2023, painting and construction works gave the house a face lift. Sylvia Crewe started volunteering at the house in May, working in many areas, and especially utilising her craft skills. \u201cBefore moving to […]<\/p>\n