SOME might say that volunteers are priceless, and that is certainly true with Centacare Brisbane’s group of Moreton Bay Transport Program volunteers.
The volunteers completely manage and organise the social bus trips for clients, and the outings have gone to greater success since a new 22-seater bus was introduced.
Clients vote on trips to be undertaken, and these have included trips to the beach and the countryside – locations that the clients can’t normally access.
One of Centacare’s valued volunteers Kerry Hayes said, “I volunteer because I am retired and I have MS (multiple sclerosis), so I volunteered as I just wanted to keep active and busy; it fulfils that role for me.
“It makes me feel fantastic when I get to see the clients getting out and enjoying themselves.
“If we weren’t doing this, they would not get out of their homes often.
“This is why I volunteer.”
Planned trips include outings to the movies and lunch.
The trips are made more fun with the volunteers and clients taking the microphone at the front of the bus to entertain each other with jokes and stories.
Program co-ordinator Lyn Gleeson said, “It always makes me happy to see the clients coming back with a beaming smile on their faces.”
A client, Mrs Schultz said: “I enjoy the scenic trips and it gets me out of the house.
“I also get to meet others and make friends whilst visiting interesting places.
“The organisers and bus drivers are all very kind and always helpful.”
Another client, Gladys Wooley said, “The trips give me the opportunity to speak to people outside the home that I wouldn’t get to do otherwise.”
This Volunteer Week 2015 Centacare Brisbane thanks all its volunteers for their hard work and dedication.
For more information on how to volunteer with Centacare Brisbane contact 1300 CENTACARE (1300 236 822).
