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At the age of 15 Kathleen Morrison began what would be a lifelong love, she began volunteering. Her first experience was with the Girl Guides in Trentham. Fast forward 64 years, and at the age of 79 Kathleen is still volunteering at Hepburn Health's Aged Care Facility at Trentham where she changes people's library books and hosts a high team four times a year.
"Kath provides a special atmosphere for residents," said Hepburn Health's director of nursing at the Trentham Aged Care Facility, Paul Hilder. "She brings her cherished grandmother's 150 year old crockery and manages the High Teas from start to finish." Kathleen says she enjoys every moment. "It takes me the whole day but I love it."
On International Women's Day this year, Kathleen was awarded the Heather Mutimer Women's Honour roll by the Hepburn Shire Council for her services to volunteering. "It makes me feel part of the community," said Kathleen, who has four children, six grandchildren, and currently helps out at her grandson's school in Flemington, just as she did at her own children's school decades ago.
When asked where Kath gets her energy from, she says "It beats pushing a vacuum cleaner around!"
Trentham residents would remember Kathleen riding around on a motorbike when she was the local postie. After delivering the mail, she would backtrack and collect groceries for some of the elderly residents who'd left out their shopping bags for her.
Kathleen has a lot of volunteering left in her and encourages people of all ages to get out and help others.
Glenlyon CFA volunteer awarded life long membership
Bob Forbes has fought hundreds of bushfires, blazes in haystacks, cars and houses. He's served as a volunteer for the CFA for almost 60 years, and just recently received a life membership at Glenlyon's CFA.
"I think the CFA is a great organisation that helps people in the country, being involved is my way of giving back to the community," he said.
The 84 year-old has fought major bushfires at Bright, Tocumwal, Rushworth and Heathcote, and said the saddest times have been seeing dead livestock after fires, and people suffering after losing their homes.
Bob began his association with the CFA in 1962 when he joined the Girgarre brigade, and in 1990 he joined the Glenlyon CFA after moving to Daylesford. He said the community is a much better place thanks to volunteers doing their bit, and through the CFA he has made some lifelong friendships.
Currently he lives with his wife of 63 years, Shirley, at Hepburn Health's Trentham Aged Care Facility. The couple have three children, 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
"After serving the community for so many decades, Bob deserves the acknowledgement that goes with becoming a CFA Life member," said Trentham Aged Care Director of Nursing Paul Hilder.
These profiles are from the new edition of Ballarat Seniors magazine. Click here to read the entire publication online.