‘I live the Love Actually airport scene every day’

AS a volunteer at Melbourne Airport, Christopher Tucker is a shoulder to cry on, a steady hand in an emergency — and someone to share the joy with, too.

Actor Hugh Grant in scene from the hugely popular Christmas film "Love Actually".

AS a volunteer at Melbourne Airport, Christopher Tucker is a shoulder to cry on, a steady hand in an emergency — and someone to share the joy with, too.

I have been involved in volunteer work since I was a young child. I love interacting with people and hearing about their lives. And it’s an enormous privilege to be there for someone when they are feeling vulnerable.

I work as a paramedic full time, and I’m a registered nurse so I occasionally do some shifts in the emergency department too. I usually work four days on, and then have four days off – and on my days off, I serve as a customer care volunteer at Melbourne airport. I’ve been doing this for three years now.

Chris Tucker, Melbourne Airport volunteer at Melbourne Airport. Picture: supplied.

The airport is a place buzzing with drama and heightened emotion. In the Departures area, there are often tears as people say farewell, unsure of when they might see each other again. Then there’s incredible stress as people may have missed their flight. In the Arrivals area, you see either the joy of reconnection, or possibly apprehension as travellers aren’t sure how to navigate a new place.

Whether I am at my day job dealing with people who are in physical distress or in my volunteer role, which focuses more on the emotional side of things, it’s up to me to try to make the person I’m assisting feel understood, and give them reassurance that they’ll be OK.

I was with a man once at the airport who was panicking as he was waiting for his son to arrive from overseas. The son was only five years old, and didn’t get off the plane. The father couldn’t make contact with the boy’s grandparents to see if he had actually been put on the plane, so he was really frantic. We managed to track down the airline officers in the country his son was due to leave, and discovered the boy hadn’t actually boarded the plane. It turned out the grandparents had been late and missed putting him on the flight, and for some reason hadn’t thought to call. It was quite the emotional roller coaster for the poor man. He hugged me afterwards in absolute relief. It was a lovely moment of shared humanity.

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Last Christmas, I got to walk around with Santa handing out small gifts to children. It was such a delight listening to them animatedly telling me about the gifts they were hoping to receive, or sharing with me that they thought they’d just seen Santa’s red “plane”.

Volunteering is one of the best things a person could ever do. My advice for volunteers is to use humour, if appropriate, to lighten tense situations, to keep it simple by offering clear instructions and to make quick connections by using the person’s name. Throughout my career I’ve learned that everyone has a story, regardless of ethnicity, gender or age. We just need to listen.

When I am in the airport, I take time to really notice people: their outfits, their accents, the way they interact. In doing so, I feel I get to share in their lives for that one moment. And if I can see they might need help? I offer it.

For more information on Melbourne Airport’s customer care program, click here.