Tammy takes opportunity

By Meg Kennedy

A local volunteer has celebrated her decades-long commitment to helping the Bacchus Marsh community.
Tammy Gillespie, a fifth-generation Bacchus Mash resident, recently celebrated her 20th anniversary working with the Bacchus Marsh Salvos Op-Shop.
Ms Gillespie, who turns 84 on Friday, 9 August, decided to volunteer after her husband passed away.
“I lost my hubby and I thought, ‘What am I going to do?’ I came down the street one day and they wanted volunteers, and I walked in and there I was. 20 years later, here I am still,” she said.
Ms Gillespie said her favourite part of volunteering is “helping the community” and being able to associate with different people from all backgrounds.
As well as volunteering at the store Ms Gillespie frequently takes home unsold towels and items to donate to the pound.
Her preferred part of the store is the ‘bric-a-brac’ section; rhyming that “wash it, clean it and present it” is the method she follows.
“We’ve had lots of fun; we all get on together and I’ve really enjoyed it,” she said.
Store Manager Nicole Bourke said Ms Gillespie has been “invaluable” to the op-shop.
“She has brought so much diversity to the store and is such an invaluable part of it.”
The Bacchus Marsh Salvos Op-Shop is located at 120A Main Street, Bacchus Marsh.