Even though life has dealt her some harsh hands, Valerie West has always found time to work as a volunteer. Here, the 63-year-old gives her insights into what it takes to be a volunteer and why it’s better to give than to receive.
Valerie says no volunteering job is too big or small
Valerie remembers her step mother leading her into the world of volunteering when she was just 18 years old. Back then, Valerie was in the Navy and home on leave in Adelaide when she suddenly found herself in the Meals on Wheels kitchen.
“My step mother would say ‘come on, you’re not sitting around here all day’, and she would take me down to Meals on Wheels where she was supervisor and have me cut up vegetables,” Valerie says.
“Sometimes I would go out with the drivers to deliver the meals as well, I really enjoyed it.”
Today, sitting in her inner-city apartment, Valerie has more than four decades of volunteering to her name. She’s also worked in paid positions for most of her life, all while juggling a busy family life.
When it comes volunteering, no job is too big or small for Valerie, who has found herself stuffing envelopes, making up giveaway bags for the Disability Games, handing out goodies bags at Tasting Australia and more.
“I grew up not expecting monetary rewards for work,” she says.
“If I’m doing something that helps someone and I don’t get paid, I would never say ‘no, I’m not going to do it’. That’s always been my ethos in life.”
Valerie’s not alone – the 2016 census found that more South Australians spend time volunteering than any other state or territory, behind only the ACT, with 21.4% of the state saying they had done volunteer work in the previous 12 months.
Valerie and her 2-year-old grandson Tyler
Even when her husband, Greg, died from cancer many years ago and Valerie was suddenly a single mother to Shelley, then seven, and David, then five, she continued to find time for volunteering while still holding down a variety of jobs including as a sandwich maker, admin worker, receptionist and in the call-centre for Australia Post.
Valerie says she loves volunteering because it makes her feel useful, as well as providing a social outlet.
“I love it, I throw myself in and work myself to the bone and get it done and I love it,” she says.
“I can be shy socially but if I have a reason to be there and a reason to approach someone and chat and get involved, it’s nice,” she says.
“Often you are literally confronted with hundreds of people who are there for the common good and I’m involved and I’m useful and I can go home and say that was really good fun.”
When her son David was diagnosed with type one diabetes as a nine year old, Valerie joined the Juvenile Diabetes Fundraising committee helping run the “Walk for the Cure” and organising the group Christmas party for the children.
“And when my children joined Scouts, I became a Cub Scout leader and did that for three years, which is a huge responsibility because the Cubs are 7-10 years of age and we would take them out camping and on outings.
“You do that all out of your own time and expense but I loved it because it helped me be involved with my children,” she says.
“The kids would help me and they learned about not being rewarded with money and they’d get to meet new people and learn new skills. My children are adults and parents now and they are both very confident and self sufficient – I’d like to think their volunteering work has helped develop those skills.”
Valerie with her daughter and her daughter’s partner. “My children are adults and parents now and they are both very confident and self sufficient – I’d like to think their volunteering work has helped develop those skills.”
Valerie retired from Australia Post more than two years ago and says volunteering is now more important than ever, as a means of getting out of the house and keeping in touch with people.
“I think a lot of retired people would feel like this, the less you do, the more you do it and you can just watch TV or play games on your phone, it’s not a healthy way to live,” she says.
“I actually got depressed and started closing in on myself. Sometimes you need to get off your backside and find something to do and just get involved.
“I don’t like to shop, I don’t like housework, I don’t garden, I do lunch now and then with friends, I would rather go and volunteer somewhere and feel useful.”
Valerie has recently taken up lawn bowls and is now on the board of Adelaide Bowling Club where she is the first female board member.
“This is my third year as secretary as well at the Bowling Club. We also run Adelaide Master Tournaments over Easter and I volunteer to help that run smoothly.
“I also currently do reception/admin work for Volunteering SA&NT one day a week and sell tickets at the Capri cinema twice a month,” she says.
“I find volunteering a great way to try new things, keep busy and meet a diverse range of people. It is a role that one does because one can – not because one has to – and the rewards speak for themselves.”
If you’re interested in volunteering, explore opportunities at Volunteering SA/ NT.