SEQ volunteers give up Christmas holiday to help less fortunate
From selling cakes for charity to giving donated Christmas trees to flood victims – these volunteers are real heroes of the holidays as they give their time to help those less fortunate.
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Not all heroes wear capes – some use their powers for good by raising money for the disadvantaged, wrapping gifts for those less fortunate, selling Christmas cakes with a smile or offering a shoulder to cry on.
Quest News is celebrating the humble volunteers working hard behind the scenes this Christmas to make this special time of year an occasion we can all enjoy.
Here they share, in their own words, why they give up their time to help others.
NORAH ABRAHAM
For the second year running, Norah Abraham will be running a Boxing Day breakfast for homeless and disadvantaged people within her community.
“I sit today and realise how far life has taken me in just a few years,” she said.
“I have an amazing husband by my side and my kids are happy but it was only nine years ago I left hospital with my second child to live in a car as we had nowhere else to go.
“Seven years ago we needed to leave home for a shelter, we were not safe, it was hard to come up with food we felt very alone and scared.
“I’m not flush but I’m doing OK but I will never forget the hard times, so myself and my kids, with the help of some amazing volunteers are putting on a brekky for homeless and disadvantaged on Boxing Day for the second year running.”
Ms Abraham said they had 60 people attend last year but were expecting more this year with inflation and the rental crisis.
“Anything left will go to After Dark Saints Inc,” she said.
KEVIN RYAN/DEE SWANSTON
Partners, who are volunteering together for the Enoggera Lion’s Club, selling some Christmas goodies in cakes and puddings for charity.
“(It) is a Lion's Club project that funds medical research into children’s cancer, children’s mobility aids, blindness prevention and emergency relief for people in need,” they said.
“Locally we have our big 12 days of Christmas raffle sales with funds going to local community needs.”
The couple have been a member of the Lions family for 12 years and said it was a “pay it forward service for us”.
“There is always someone or some group that needs even the smallest amount of assistance which we are more than happy to provide, individually or as the club,” they said.
“What it means to us is simple – there is always someone worse off and in need of (more) assistance than we'll ever be.”
JENNIFER & RUTHVEN UNDERHILL
The volunteers from the Brisbane Basket Brigade, who love to give up their time and energy to help the less fortunate and prefer to have a “boots on the ground” approach.
“We much prefer to volunteer boots on the ground style energy, rather than financial donations, even though they can go hand-in-hand through the Basket Buddies program we also participate in,” the couple said.
“We love working together as part of a team to achieve more than we could as individuals.”
The couple said volunteering was an important part of their life and it helped keep them grounded.
“It provides an understanding and empathy for parts of our community we would not generally engage with,” they said.
“We love meeting new people with a like minded interest in volunteering.
“very year we meet the most lovely people, both volunteers and recipients of the deliveries.
“One delivery that stuck out to us was a delivery to a family newly immigrated from Africa. “They had young twin girls who came out to us at the car and held our hands as we walked in with the parcels.
“Their mother had tears in her eyes and said that they had nothing under the Christmas tree, and how appreciative they were.
“Every year we have the opportunity to improve someone’s life just a little and that makes it worthwhile.”
RAY BURT
The 90-year-old Lion’s member who just can’t stop helping others.
Mr Burt moved to Brisbane to be a primary school teacher in 1977 and has been a member of the Enoggera Lion’s Club ever since.
He has been volunteering for 45 years for the local community and is currently involved in the Lion’s annual Christmas cake fundraising drive – selling cakes and puddings on the side of Burwood Rd on the way to Brookside Shopping Centre.
“This spot near Brookside has been a special spot for Ray who has been selling cakes here since 1978,” Lion’s club member, Amanda Ronan-Hearn, said.
“Volunteering is very important to Ray as he believes there is a need in the community and people will always need help.
“Although some may receive government assistance, they do not receive a personal touch from the community.
“It is the personal touch that really makes life worthwhile and Ray likes to be personally involved with people.”
SALLY DAVISON
A Brisbane resident and flood relief volunteer, Sally Davison has been helping her community in Woodburn since March and even did a Christmas drop last weekend.
Ms Davison said the people she helped “have gone through so much and are so kind hearted”.
She has been taking donations via a Facebook call-out and people have been giving what they have to the cause all year.
“Besides donated goods and things we have bought via our GoFundMe, we have put together garden hampers, foot hampers and dropped off second hand Christmas trees,” she said.
“One lady we have helped, beautiful Grace, is an avid gardener and was known for her incredible garden.
“There were tears when we arrived and began planting the donated seedlings soon after our visit.
“Her son had told me her favourite flowers a few months ago.
“We helped put up the donated Christmas tree, she is a beautiful lady and was so overwhelmed.”
Ms Davison said she has always wanted to help people.
“I guess the tipping point was the floods. It was too horrendous to just sit and do nothing,” she said.
“I used to be a full time photographer but this whole flood business opened me up to look at more not for profit work in the hopes I do more disaster relief work.
“Helping people is and has always been at the heart of who I am.”
MICHAEL KONTOS, BECKY KAZZI, REBECCA GRAHAM, BRETT SMITH, JACKSON SMITH
Five people, who are part of a Brisbane IT group and get together for a cause.
The group organises fundraising events to bring the local IT community together and “share a common goal”.
On December 9, the group held an event where more than 100 IT professionals came together and gave thousands of dollars worth of gifts to the Hummingbird House Christmas tree.
“We feel that helping the children and their families that stay at Hummingbird House is important especially when they are facing difficult circumstances,” the group said.
“Even the smallest gesture makes a difference and when we all come together those gestures add up to make a meaningful impact.
“Hummingbird House is the only children's hospice in Queensland that provides paediatric palliative care and we are passionate to raise awareness while contributing towards their fundraising goals.
“We have a great sense of accomplishment and we have made amazing friendships since we created the Brisbane IT Social group.
“We hope that people can learn from this and apply it to their own lives.
“We don‘t do it for the glory, we are doing it for the children and their families.”
AMANDA RONAN-HEARN, ALANA STANLEY, ALLY OSBORN
More volunteers from the Enoggera Lion’s Club, the trio are all busy mums, who try to fit in volunteering around their busy work and home schedules.
The group is currently referred to as the A-team running the Enoggera Lion’s 12 Days of Christmas Raffle, with proceeds going straight back into the community.
Ms Ronan-Hearn and Ms Stanley have been busy on the ground, collecting prizes from local businesses, selling tickets right across Brisbane’s north and promoting the raffle.
While Ms Osborn has been working remotely on the social media accounts and developing the marketing material to try and get the word out there.
“We volunteer because we want to set a good example for our young children, to show them that helping others in need is important and being an active part of your community is rewarding and special,” the group said.
“Despite being busy working mums, we try to find the time to volunteer with the Lion’s, which in turn helps with providing support to those who need it.
“We enjoy meeting people in the community, listening to individual life stories and offering help and support.
“The Enoggera Lions Club feels like a little community or family in itself and we feel so lucky to be part of it and know that we are making a difference in the community.
“We understand not everyone always has the time to commit and spend with us but want people to know that every little bit helps
“Even if that is just flipping a sausage at a sizzle once in a while.”
CHRIS & CHRISTINE
The duo who form part of the Comlink Companions program’s Care Army.
“I originally joined the Care Army at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic because there were so many people, especially the elderly, that were feeling lonely and vulnerable,” Chris said.
“I also felt it was time to give more back to our community.
“We have some lovely conversations and laughs and do the simple things most people take for granted, like going out for coffee or looking around the shops.
“My life feels so much richer since I started volunteering and meeting my companion, we have such a beautiful connection.
“There are many vulnerable people in our community that don't have family around and they are lonely especially around those special times like Christmas.”
Christine said she started volunteering after responding to an advertisement looking for volunteers to connect with the elderly.
“It was right up my ally as I love connecting with the wisdom, the stories, and the energy that the elderly have,” she said.
“As we were still experiencing Covid, I knew how isolated a lot of elderly people, with family not being able to visit them.
“As I had the time, I thought I could perhaps give back.
“I absolutely love connecting with other people from all walks of life and of hearing their stories. I’m inspired to be a better version of myself by learning from others.”
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