Volunteers make an enormous contribution to Karingal; assisting with services and special events across the organisation, and enriching people's lives. Karingal volunteers are of all ages and come from a wide range of backgrounds. All have one thing in common - valuable skills, experience and personalities to share.
Without volunteers, many Karingal services and events could not function effectively.
Here are some of their stories.
Ron Andrews and volunteer Alan Stacey have been friends for fifteen years. They met at Karingal's supported employment service, which was then called Mollers Lane.
"I’ve tried to convert him to barracking for the Kangas but he won’t. He sticks with the Saints. We agree on everything but the football," Alan says. "On Saturdays we often go to the Botanic Gardens. I can forgive Ron for never going fishing. Once we went to Black Rock where my dad drowned. Dad and I were fishing there when a wave swept him off the rocks. Ron and I shared a moment together."
After many years in institutions across Victoria, Ron now lives independently in a unit attached to Karingal House. "If I hadn’t been a volunteer I wouldn’t have one of the best friendships going. If you could spend a few days with Ron and listen to him tell you about his life you’d really learn something." Alan says. "I’ve been a real rolling stone," Ron says.
"When I had a nervous breakdown I was put into a hospital and then I kept moving. It was rough. Some places were like a prison; big fences and empty yards you walked around. I had shock therapy which gave me bad dreams."
"The last time I saw my brother was when he visited me in hospital to tell me mum had died. That was many years ago. The institutions don’t treat you as a living person with a soul."
"I introduce Alan as my brother. He’s a good chap. We both have a sense of humour and so we can share a joke."
Bruce George
Retired with a grown family, 63 year-old Bruce George insists he has lived a fortunate life and now wants to give something back to the community. He volunteers three-days-a-week at various Karingal locations and is particularly popular with “the ladies".
“By the time people get to my age, most have been touched by some sort of tragedy. I’ve enjoyed a very fortunate life in that regard. My family is grown and happy and healthy. I’m a lucky man. Volunteering with Karingal is a great opportunity to give something back. And it’s just wonderful. I thoroughly enjoy it.
There are so many things I like about spending time with the people at Karingal but one of the main ones would be finding different ways of communicating. On Wednesdays I spend time with a ladies group at West Geelong. There’s about 10 of them. Judging from the reception I get, they seem to appreciate my company as well!”
Karen Binks
For former nurse and exercise physiologist, Karen Binks, becoming a volunteer with Karingal’s Mental Health Support presented the perfect opportunity to learn more about mental illness, while taking a break from her career to raise two young children.
“I wanted to immerse myself in the area of mental health, to prove to myself and to others, that mental illness was not something to be afraid of. I certainly proved that – a million times over! I started out with Mental Health Support in a yoga group; probably because of my professional background. Now I’m in a scrapbooking group, which I have absolutely no experience in whatsoever. It doesn’t really matter though because It’s more a talk group than anything; just getting together and having a natter …and I certainly have no problem in that regard!’’