Meet the Volunteers who are making South Australia a better place
From running men’s sheds to making tracksuits for the homeless, there are plenty of volunteers who turn our state into a better place. Meet them here.
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They are often the unsung volunteers of our community.
From football clubs and libraries to op shops and men’s sheds, none of these would be possible without the volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes.
they’re the everyday heroes making our communities what they are today.
As a part of National Volunteer Week, The Messenger has dived into our local communities to find who our unsung heroes are and what drives them to make our home a better place.
Meet South Australian Volunteers
Pam Verdins
Looking to give back to the rural city that had been so good to her, Pam Verdins has spent the last three years volunteering her time with the Mount Gambier Red Cross.
Mrs Verdins was initially part of the tele-cross team doing early morning check-in calls before moving to the transport team.
“We’re in touch with our clients that live alone and who need that early morning call because quite often, we’re the only contact that they do have,” she said.
“We generally have just a little chat with them.”
At 68, the retiree said she enjoyed ferrying people to doctor appointments, shopping and social trips.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to think that you’ve actually been able to reach out to someone lend support and care and help them any way you can,” Mrs Verdins said.
“We’re all here we all we all band together as one — It’s not just not just one person, it’s a whole team effort.”
Shirley Goss
As a former bank manager, Shirley Goss was put through her paces in the workplace.
And anyone would forgive her for taking some time for herself in retirement.
Instead, the 62-year-old North Haven woman has travelled to the Kilburn Community Centre to lend her time to others for the past five years.
“There’s no KPIs, there’s no sales targets,” Mrs Goss joked.
“Volunteering is so much different from working, it’s just a complete joy.
“I think it’s a great way of being able to give back to the community and just feel like you’re doing something good but at the same time it does something good for yourself.
“It adds some structure to my week, but it just gives me joy – I really enjoy it.”
Mrs Goss is at the centre once a week to help older citizens in the community.
She said she had formed relationships with other volunteers, staff and the people she was there to help out.
“The older citizens come once a week and we do an activity, have a two course lunch and then we’re on to the most important part of the day – bingo,” she said.
Bruce Newstead
Paralowie grandfather Bruce Newstead has given five years of his life to others.
Volunteering at the Jack Young Centre for Seniors at Salisbury, Mr Newstead uses his time to keep a bit of zest in his life while delivering for others.
The grandfather of three is famed for his bi-weekly walking groups but splits his time helping out with painting classes.
Mr Newstead said he had been painting for 35 years, was a member of the South Australian Art Society and happily shared his expertise with others.
Despite having lived through a few mango seasons himself, the vivacious volunteer has no plans of slowing down any time soon and said giving his time to others gave him purpose.
Keith Wentriro
Keith Wentriro’s volunteering is peerless in his local area.
He has been a Tea Tree Gully Council volunteer for more than four decades, totalling 45 years in 2022 and has been recognised by the council for his service.
He is the longest serving volunteer at the council.
Andrew Van Nunen
For Andrew Van Nunen, sacrificing his time has completely changed his life.
Mr Van Nunen, who volunteers at the Tea Tree Gully Library and Adelaide Zoo, said helping others had given his life meaning.
The 41-year-old has a complex autism diagnosis and has relished being able to find direction in his life after years of not being able to find a place in mainstream employment.
“I think that, being on a disability support pension and having autism, it’s just a place to contribute where everyone is equal,” he told The Messenger.
“There’s no ranks or haves and have nots – it’s all about what you’re doing to contribute towards a bigger picture of what’s happening.
“Also there’s a lack of pressure, you’re not there to produce like most jobs – you’re doing it because you love it.”
Mr Van Nunen explained how important being involved in a work-like environment was for his health.
“With autism you have sensitivities, and if you can’t read people’s body language and time management is important, it makes you virtually incapable of managing the routine for mainstream employment,” he said.
“Without the workplace adapting, which is hard to find, it’s a road to failure.”
Mr Van Nunen has dedicated 15 years to Adelaide Zoo, helping out in the animal behaviour and environment enrichment field.
Four years ago he spread his wings to the library.
He said volunteering enriched his life and that having a disability helped raise awareness for others.
“We’re viewed as volunteers, even though we’ve got a disability, that’s how the community views us and who and what we are,” he said.
“It helps show we are around and gets people used to and tolerant of us.
“Hidden disability is something that need to be brought forward more … it’s always a fight, not just against Centrelink and other places, but within our own community.
“But volunteering and being part of the community helps to show these conditions are out there and they’re not weird.”
Sue Armstrong
Volunteers are at the heart of the Hackham Community Centre’s workforce.
This includes Sue Armstrong, who volunteers Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in a range of roles including the supported playgroup and crèche.
She also helps out at fund-raising activities and runs cooking classes at the centre, teaching young people to make simple, healthy and inexpensive meals.
“It’s good to see the change in people when they know they have a safe place to come and talk and trust that their children are being looked after,” Ms Armstrong said.
“Sometimes it’s great when you know you’ve made a difference to parents or children who are struggling with life or if they have problems.
“You just make their day by lending a listening ear or a hug – it’s often all they want.
“They tend to give me more back than I give which is really lovely.”
Hetty Browning and Phyllis Corin
Hetty Browning and Phyllis Corin have been volunteering together at Aberfoyle Park’s Hub Library for a total of 61 years between them.
The pair highlight the sense of community they feel from volunteering as a reason for their longevity.
“I get to meet people and the staff at the library are so nice, but it’s the contact and social aspects I enjoy the most.” Ms Browning said.
Ms Corin responded: “Yes, I’m much the same. It’s the company and feeling like you’re doing something for yourself and the community. Plus, its physical exercise putting the books away; lots of bending and squatting. I didn’t know anyone when I first started (January 1989).”
The pair’s friendship began to blossom after they were rostered on the same day, many moons ago.
While Covid has changed their hours, the pair still plan on giving back to the community they love so much.
“It’s familiar, you get to have a look at the books, you learn something new every day and it’s good company,” Ms Corin said.
Jordan Minns
Jordan Minns has been volunteering at Calvary Adelaide Hospital for the last two years, while working around his study at university.
Mr Minns helps assist patients and staff on Milne Ward, making their day a little easier.
“My experience at Calvary has taught me that you don’t need to move mountains to make a significant impact on someone’s life, it can be as simple as a little chat or a walk around the ward,” Mr Minns said.
Jack Peacock
Having your driver’s licence is an important tool for daily living, but obtaining the mandatory 75 hours of supervised driving can be hard for many.
For the last six years, Jack Peacock has spent over 550 hours in the passenger seat helping people get their licence.
Laughing it off as a “weak moment”, Mr Peacock said he first got involved when a mate’s wife came into the pub and said she “had a job for him”.
However, he soon fell in love with helping disadvantaged people get their licence.
“I got a thrill out of seeing these disadvantaged people, mainly kids and refugees, get their license,” he said.
Mr Peacock said many did not have access to a car they can regularly use or to a qualified driver who can supervise them.
“It’d be a pretty sad world if we didn’t have volunteers,” he said.
Stefan Bowden
At just 22, Stefan Bowden has already spent four years with the CFS after joining up as soon as he turned 18.
Though he works as both a cray-fisherman and a timber plantation worker, Mr Bowden is happy to give up some of his limited off-time to his community.
Despite his youth, Mr Bowden has already been apart of major bushfire events — attending the two recent Lucindale fires as well as being sent to Queensland in 2018-2019.
Mr Bowden said he had been around the CFS his whole life and enjoyed serving his community.
“It’s about helping out the community and really just helping people at their hardest times,” he said.
“There’s not many people who like to stick their hand out — but we really need more, because at the moment, we’re struggling to get people.
“So the more we can get the better it’s gonna be.”
Julie Wildman
Julie Wildman, 76, began volunteering with the City of Marion 12 years ago with one day a week as her “respite day” from caring for her late husband James who had the neurodegenerative disease Lewy body dementia.
After James’ passing, Ms Wildman upped her volunteering days to several a week.
Ms Wildman was one of the founding members of the Mitchell Park Sewing Group that started 12 years ago as an outreach for new migrants so they could learn and share skills, including learning English.
The group would have picture cards focused on sewing to share with members.
At its peak, the group had 20 members, many from Afghanistan.
Over the years the group has made “peanut pillows’ for neonatal patients at Lyell McEwin Hospital, tracksuits for the homeless, tracksuits for remote Aboriginal communities, quilts for soldiers serving in Afghanistan, scarves for the homeless and more recently face masks that they would sell for $5 as a fund-raiser or give away to those in need.
Neville Radford
Hackham West’s Neville Radford joined City of Onkaparinga’s Graffiti Removal Volunteer Team in September 2012.
A decade later — and some 4770 hours, removing an incredible 29,500 pieces of graffiti — Mr Radford recently hung up the paintbrush for some much-needed R & R.
City of Onkaparinga’s Graffiti Removal Volunteer Team, which includes around 24 people, operates from Monday to Friday using fully-equipped graffiti removal vehicles.
Their work, combined with that of a contractor that does pressure cleaning and elevated work, covers every inch of the City of Onkaparinga.
Mr Radford’s patch was mostly in the north of the city, covering suburbs such as Aberfoyle Park, Flagstaff Hill and Morphett Vale on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Asked if he felt he’d made a difference, Mr Radford responded immediately.
“Oh yeah,” he said.
“It’s been getting less and less, that’s what we’re out there for.
It gives you fulfilment, that you’re cleaning up the area. It gives you a sense of wanting to be there and wanting to do it.”
Mr Radford’s work has also seen him recognised with multiple awards, including a 2020 Premier’s Award for Outstanding Achievement by Volunteers, and the Amanda Rishworth’s 2018 Annual Southern Suburbs Volunteer Service Award.
Leo Oliver
South Port Surf Life Saving Club member Leo Oliver, 15, was recognised as the Young Citizen of the Year in the 2022 City of Onkaparinga Australia Day Awards.
“Being named Young Citizen of the Year confirms for me that I’m doing the right thing in my community,” Leo said.
“I love the South Port club and the community there.
“The club only runs because of help from volunteers. It’s a fun place to be.”
President of the South Port Surf Life Saving Club, Richard (Dick) Olesinski nominated Leo for the award, acknowledging his level of maturity and responsibility that far outweighs his years.
Leo joined in 2014, progressing through the Nippers’ ranks to become junior club captain in the 2019-20 season.
Since finishing Nippers, Leo has continued to provide mentorship and support to the club’s junior members.
He completed more than 51 volunteer hours in 2020-21, including water safety cover for Nippers on most Saturdays and at junior carnivals.
“Leo is always the first to put his hand up for anything at the club that needs volunteers and often not for jobs that are glamorous or give the most accolades,” Mr Olesinski said.
“He helps carry equipment on and off the beach whenever required and he is a regular helper in the canteen and kitchen, where he serves meals at the club’s monthly Sunday Sessions and other events.”
In December 2020, Leo’s years of dedicated training helped him and two other Under 15 South Port members save the life of a snorkeller who was in distress 300 metres offshore in windy conditions.
“When my friends and I noticed the snorkeller was in danger, we clicked into rescue mode,” Leo said.
“Our training means it becomes second nature to act when we see someone in trouble.”
Leo was awarded the prestigious statewide Surf Life Saving SA Youth Member of the Year Award for 2020-21 in honour of his calm and confident rescue of the snorkeller and his many other contributions to surf life saving.
Jill Kimber
Joining the Lions Club of Hallett Cove and Districts in 2012, Jill Kimber and her partner Tom became actively involved in the activities of the club.
Whether it is cooking sausages at Bunnings, making chemo caps with the sewing group, making scones for morning teas or working in the op-shop you will find Ms Kimber there.
She is also actively involved in the administration of the club and has willingly taken on the role of membership chairman and president.
Margaret Winterfield
After 33 years of service, Margaret Winterfield was recently awarded the Order of Australia for her work with the RSL Mount Gambier Community Women’s Auxiliary.
Mrs Winterfield, whose husband is a Vietnam War veteran, decided to join the Woman’s Auxiliary when her husband returned.
Her service is centred on important events for the Mount Gambier RSL and last Anzac Day was “flat out” working in the kitchens.
“I’m quite proud of what we do,” she said.
She earned a Premier’s Award in 2018.
Ian Mcdougall
After nearly 50 years as a Rotarian, Ian Mcdougall’s life centres around the mateship and camaraderie he shares with his fellow members.
Mr Mcdougall said the friends he’s made with Rotary have formed a big part of his support network.
Last year Mr Mcdougall lost his wife.
Needing some company he went to Rotary the following day.
Last week Mr Mcdougall was discharged from hospital after a 71-day stay and was again back at the club the following day.
“ It was good. I’d missed the guys,” he said.
“The fellowship in our Rotary Club is fantastic.”
Ian Bond
After moving to Mount Gambier in 2017 to be closer to family, Ian Bond joined the local Men’s Shed.
Mr Bond said the Men’s Shed was a great way to serve the community and provide a place to promote men’s mental health.
“Last Wednesday, six of us got together and went to the Church of Christ Church on Jubilee Highway and rebuilt and assembled a storage shed for their op shop,” Mr Bond said.
“They’ve been waiting probably two years for this facility to be done and we fixed it for them.”
Terryl Allen
Terryl Allen first joined the Carpenter Rocks Progress Association roughly 30 years ago when Carpenter Rocks was a “small town”.
“We wanted to see something nice happen there,” she said.
“When we were first there was nothing there – if you go to Carpenter Rocks now you see a lovely little town and you see halls and playground equipment.”
Mrs Allen said it had been a group effort between the Progress Association and the District Council of Grant.
“We are proud of what we’ve done,” she said.
“I think we’ve all done a brilliant job.”
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