soul stories

STIRLING DOLPHINS

The Stirling Dolphins are a group of seniors who meet twice a week to swim and socialise at the Inglewood pool and have been going continually for 25 years next year (that makes them officially ‘vintage’ next year!). Soul Gestures are thrilled to recognise their contribution to the active seniors within the City of Stirling.

The bus stop celebration coincides with two of the Dolphins’ birthdays-Joan (80) and Clyde (70). Joan is one of the foundation members who started going to learn how to swim when they started a Learn to Swim program at the pool in 1984. She said, “ It all started 20 years ago when the Department of Health started Learn to Swim classes and I decided to have a go. I had always had to just sit on the side of the pool watching everybody else. I was a bit frightened but I really wanted to swim.

Margaret then said “I couldn’t swim at all. George, our swimming coach had to start by getting me to just put my head in. I have been coming for 16 years and have never missed a session except when we are on holidays. It has been a fabulous social club and has been very relaxing.”

A lot of the group started coming whilst they were still working but organised their work hours around the sessions. As one of the men, Peter said “the fitness is important but the most important thing is the social side of the Dolphins.” Clyde said “and let’s not forget the Inglewood Pool who let us use their rooms for free for our monthly party.”

The swimmers come from throughout Stirling and have an incredible range of work backgrounds. If any of them are too unwell to swim, they will still turn up for the cuppa and chat. They all know each others’ partners through the lunches and are constantly asking about the grandchildren and families. Some of them even organise their holidays, such as an upcoming trip to Tasmania, together. In many ways, they have created an extra (and highly social!) family. And if the fitness and looks of the group are anything to go by, the combination of swimming and friendship is definitely good for finding the “fountain of youth”!

The Stirling Dolphins would love more people to join them and can be contacted at benners@iinet.net.au or by contacting Inglewood Pool on 9276 3216.

The Stirling Dolphins nomination has been funded by the WA Department for Local Government and Regional Development’s Active Ageing grants, celebrating active seniors in our local community.

 
MERRYL SMART

Merryl Smart from Padbury is 71 years old and was born in Dowerin. She moved to Perth and worked her career as a shop assistant. When her son Andrew was 19 years old he joined the SES, declaring to his mum “We’re joining!” So they joined together. This was in 1991. Merryl didn’t know a thing about the SES at the time. She said that the SES has now become her family. All walks of life are welcome and when there is a big call out for an emergency you all go together as a family.

Merryl was nominated by AJ Lester who describes Merryl as the glue who brings everybody together at the Wanneroo-Joondalup SES Unit. She helps prepare all the food for the unit on call out but her main role is to provide welfare support for the whole team. She is there for every member of the unit, whether they are happy or have come from a particularly difficult or tiring job.

Merryl said herself “Everyone has something to contribute-I can’t get up on a roof but I can fill the sandbags. And I can talk to everyone and be happy to get a hug from anyone!”

Merryl is such a lifeforce that one recent senior visitor to the Unit was inspired to join the SES unit after meeting and chatting to Merryl. And Merryl would like even more senior volunteers to join them.

Merryl best friend and buddy at the SES Unit is Pat, who has encouraged Merryl to also get involved in the Cancer Council’s Relay for Life. The money from the annual event which has about 170 teams goes towards research in to the eradication of Cancer. They raised $720 000 last year and are aiming for a million this year. Pat and Merryl are now organising the first local Relay for Life in Joondalup in September and would love to see a lot of local teams register for the event.

And if this was not enough for Merryl she spends every Sunday morning at the Cancer Council Hospice in Glengaary giving support, relief and love to families during the often difficult last days. She said it was so important to let people know during this time that they were “a person not a number”. She said that this work was her tonic for the week and she gained enormous satisfaction from this particular work.

Merryl would love you to join her at the Wanneroo-Joondalup SES. The unit can be contacted on 9300 1666. And if you would like to support Merryl with the first Relay for Life in Joondalup please contact joondaluprelayforlife@gmail.com or 1300 65 65 85. The Joondalup Relay for Life will be held on the 20-21 September 2008 to support the Cancer Council.

Merryl’s nomination was funded by the WA Department for Local Government and Regional Development Active Ageing Grants celebration active seniors like Merryl’s contribution to our community.


JACK ROSS

Jack Ross from Westminster is 82 years old and works three full days a week for the Volunteer Taskforce in North Perth, as one of their volunteer gardeners. He worked his whole life with practical work such a being a storeman for Bristile Bricks and then spent a number of years fulltime caring for his wife. When his wife died twelve years ago one of his neighbours came over to visit him and handed him a brochure for the Volunteer Taskforce and said, you should get involved with this. He had never been a volunteer before but he went to see them and started at the age of 70 by being a volunteer driver taking people to their medical appointments and shopping as well as gardening. When he started to get worried that his old car was perhaps not reliable enough for the driving job he turned to gardening instead.

Three days a week Jack goes out with a team and they garden three different gardens all over the northern suburbs. Often the clients are people who through age or disability are no longer able to garden themselves. Jack enjoys the work and says it keeps him fit and he also enjoys the social chitchat. Many of the clients put on a lovely cuppa or morning tea when they finish and it is often some social contact for them as well.

Jack says that the Volunteer Taskforce has become his family now. He has had to go into hospital a couple of times over the last few years and he is inundated with casseroles and visits at these times. And on his days off, the Volunteer Taskforce truck will often drop past his house for a cuppa on their way through. Two of the other volunteers Wanda and Jim have become his family and he spends Christmases and birthdays at their home. He is just part of their family now.

Jack said that he is older than many of his clients but it hasn’t stopped him getting out and doing it-he loves gardening and would encourage others to also give it a go because there is a need for a lot more volunteers. Jack can’t imagine not volunteering anymore and gets deep satisfaction from it.

Jack was nominated by Kath Snell at the Volunteer Taskforce who can be contacted at kath.snell@volunteertaskforce.org.au and his nomination was also supported by the Town of Vincent. Jack is a true inspiration!

Jack would love more people to volunteer with the Volunteer Taskforce and start getting involved just like him. They can be contacted on: 9328 5388.

Jack’s nomination has been funded through the WA Department for Local Government and Regional Development Acitve Ageing Grants to celebrate Active Seniors in our local communities.


BOB COOPER

With his broad Scottish accent and his big beaming smile, Bob Cooper is the perfect person to get people together behind the Rockingham Safety House programme. He has been involved with Safety House WA for 7 years and just loves knowing that he is making the community safer for our kids. With 4 grandkids of his own, he wants to know that every child in Rockingham knows there is a Safety House nearby. He already has over 200 houses participating and would love to see more people involved so that every street is a Safety House street. Bob also organises the school canteen so that the kids know him and works with the police to organise discos.

Bob’s commitment to his community earned him a nomination from Mike Cox at Safety House WA.

TO find out more about Safety House WA, please click here www.safetyhousewa.org.au


UGO DE MARCHI

Ugo has lived in the same street in Coolbellup his whole life. He is a humble man, who understated his very active role for Neighbourhood Watch; that he is the face of Neighbourhood Watch at the Coolbellup shops.

Ugo tries to raise awareness about the need to stay vigilant. He says, “Thieves are just opportunistic-they only need 30 seconds.”
Ugo has built strong personal relationships with the police, shopkeepers and community members. He reminds us to report all our suspicions because we are all partners in preventing crime.

Ugo’s nomination came from Julie Tanner from the City of Cockburn.

To find out more about Neighbourhood Watch, please click here. www.nhw.wa.gov.au


BEVERLEY KAPS

When Beverley Kaps’ son was in pre-primary at Davallia Primary & she was home with a newborn, Bev heard about Safety House one day at assembly & they asked if anyone would be interested in being a Safety House. Beverley decided to find out more & eventually became the Safety House Coordinator for the area. She often walks classes around the suburb, showing them where every Safety House is.

She keeps the positive message for the youngsters with yellow Safety House displays, cupcakes and balloons. Beverley says “My son rides to school and he knows that if he needs help, even if he is hurt or ill, that he has safe places to go to.” She particularly loves the clear message the yellow Safety House signs give. “It tells the baddies that the people who live in this area are mindful-that has to be a deterrent!”

Beverley was nominated by Mike Cox from Safety House WA

To find out more about Safety House WA please click here www.safetyhousewa.org.au


GWEN & ARTHUR DAVIES

Gwen & Arthur Davies established Sorrento Neighbourhood Watch 20 years ago, thinking that it would be great way to help people get to know each other. They decided to break Sorrento into 10 areas and then these areas were broken down to single streets so that every person in Sorrento looked out for each other. They believed that there was no point in hiring people to provide security if every house got to know their neighbours. When they retired recently, they felt that they had nearly achieved their goal, with a very active Neighbourhood Watch group encompassing 100 street reps, & a newsletter to every single household.

Gwen & Arthur were nominated by Barry Groves from Sorrento Neighbourhood Watch.

To find out more about Neighbourhood Watch please click here www.nhw.wa.gov.au


CONSTABLE CARE

Constable Care works tirelessly throughout the State, teaching children skills to keep themselves safe within their community-both in relation to child protection and also bullying.

His whole focus is on teaching children the life skills to protect themselves in situations where they may feel vulnerable.

Since he started in 1989, over a million children in primary schools from the Kimberleys to the South West to Kalgoorlie have had fun whilst learning important messages that just might protect our next generation.

Constable Care has been nominated by Vick Evans at Constable Care.

To find out more about Constable Care please click here. www.constablecare.org.au


PAULINE PROSSER

15 years ago, Pauline Prosser saw a notice at the Maddington Shopping Centre asking for Neighbourhood Watch volunteers. Her son was a community police officer, so she thought it would be great to support his work & volunteered.

The Gosnells Neighbourhood Watch group started small with 10 volunteers & 4 street reps. They now have 60 street reps! Pauline works tirelessly in their ‘shop’ for 15-20 hours every week- creating displays, talking to shopkeepers & talking with locals about security. There is noone who knows more about this community than Pauline!

Pauline’s nomination is from Angela Brenley, from the City of Gosnells, who works with Pauline each week .

TO find out more about Neighbourhood Watch, please click here. www.nhw.wa.gov.au
ALI BARRY

For most people, working & raising a family is quite enough work. But for Ali Barry, raising his family is crucial, and raising awareness about the Fullah community is also important. Ali voluntarily supports refugees arriving from the West African Fullah community by assisting with settlement issues, providing interpreting services and helping to educate service providers about the cultural background of this small community here in Perth. The Fullah people come from West Africa –a minority people across a number of West African nations. Ali helped to set up a formal Fullah community which every family is involved in and they are all committed to integration, a good education for their children and the challenge of understanding and embracing their new culture.

Ali was nominated by Gemechu Denbali of Centrelink.


DORIS MAROCCHI

Doris Marocchi has been a volunteer for 45 years, devoting 1000s of hours to the Italian Club-originally helping people to settle and often functioning as an interpreter-and later organizing activities for the older Italians. She still helps to the run the craft group for the “oldies” every Tuesday morning. Doris has managed all of her community service without ever having to drive a car. Why does she keep doing it? “Because a community is like a family-you should be there for them.”

To this day the telephone rings constantly, with someone in the community wanting an ear to listen. Doris is extraordinary at listening and being truly interested in everybody in the world around her.

Doris was nominated by Mayor Nick Catania, Town of Vincent


FRANK PELUSEY

Frank’s semi-retirement from pharmacy has made him busier than ever, working with the Refugee Committee of St Vincent de Paul. He said that the work gave some humanity to people who are often faceless in society-that the horrors they have been through is slightly lessened by a simple greeting, shake of the hand or a play with the kids on the floor. His visits mean a lot to the newly-arrived refugees as they are often very isolated-to have a visit from someone who is just there to say hello and smile is a new experience for most of them.
Frank delivers furniture, organizes emergency clothing, teaches about budgeting and helps to organize twice a year picnics. He is heavily involved in the delivering of 150 Xmas hampers each year.

Frank has been nominated by Br Geoff Seaman from St Vincent de Paul.


MARIAM PORWELL

Mariam Porwell is from Tanzania. When she arrived in Perth with her husband, she felt like she had little English and said that she spent the first period studying the language. When her son, who is now 8 years old, wanted to play Aussie Rules footy, Mariam would take him by two busses down to the African Auskick program at South Fremantle footy club so that he could join in. Mariam found that footy was a great way for her to get involved in the
community and learn something different as well as meet a lot of people. She started to take flyers about AFL to friends and other African families to motivate them to also join in their local game. Many African families are now playing footy thanks to Mariam’s enthusiasm.
Mariam was nominated by Richard Liedtke, Marketing Manager at Centrelink.


KEITH ALLMARK

Keith was one of the earliest Burmese refugees to arrive in WA, in 1964. By 1965 he was already helping to found an association for refugees escaping the atrocities in Burma.

In 1986 he set up Tribal Refugee Network to help all Burmese refugees, regardless of their cast or religion, settle in WA.
Keith spends every day helping his community by driving people to hospitals, taking them to appointments & helping them understand settlement issues.

The father of 6 says that he does it because he appreciates “from the bottom of my heart” what Australia has given him & he wants every Burmese to feel safe & thrive.

Keith was nominated by Camille Le Geois at Centrelink.


CARDINALS JUNIOR FOOTBALL CLUB

The Cardinals Junior Football Club in Mt Hawthorn are like many junior football clubs around Australia, filled with busy volunteer parents and lots of kids. The difference with this club is that they recognized that many families moving into the area were from different nationality backgrounds so they have actively worked to give every family, both child and parent, the opportunity to participate, no matter what their background or knowledge of the game.

This philosophy of true inclusiveness gave them a nomination from Mayor Nick Catania from the Town of Vincent.


IAN WILSON

Ian Wilson is the Head of Science at Aranmore Catholic College. For the past year he has been working with Year 10 students who have been struggling in the mainstream due to language and literacy issues. In a single class he had students from 10 nationality backgrounds– most with English as a Second Language.

Ian developed a new science lexicon for his students, replacing common scientific terms with universal words that all his students could understand. They began to understand the concepts and supported each other as they learnt to love science first; and then develop the language. The students are now achieving above State average results.

Ian’s innovation in a culturally diverse classroom was nominated by Ray Mason.
MELISSA CARTER

Melissa Carter has been one of the true inspirations for Soul Gestures; proof that you don’t have to be a volunteer to be someone who inspires within local communities.

Melissa works at the BP Petrol Station at Carine Glades Shopping Centre, and makes a point of leaving her console whenever senior pull in, to assist them by filling their petrol for them. When we commented on her thoughtfulness, she told us that she had been made to leave another job for doing it but believes that Seniors should be treated with this level of respect.

Melissa explained that service was a big part of the philosophy at BP Carine and that all staff were encouraged to go that extra step at work. Her boss, Russell Hirt said that Melissa should be applauded and she is a good example of what they are trying to do at Carine. The number of Seniors and people with disabilities using BP Carine has also increased due to the extra kindness.

When Melissa was told about the nomination, she was absolutely “gob-smacked”. She explained that she had had a really tough life and that had never thought that anyone would ever see her as an inspiration. She said that the recognition has been life-changing for her.

Melissa was nominated by Catherine Kolomyjec and her story will appear at a bus shelter on Stirling Highway Mosman Park WA (3 -16 September) and on Main Street Osborne Park WA (1-14 October). Her story has been supported by one of our Corporate Members : Dentmasters WA.

PAUL CALATZIS

Paul Calatzis is in many ways your average 15 year old. He is bogged down with homework, likes heavy metal music and works part-time to have the extra cash. And, like many young people around Australia, he loves the beach. But Paul’s love of the beach has translated to a commitment that should be truly celebrated in this the 100 year celebration of Surf Lifesaving in Australia.

Paul was nominated for recognition because, amongst all of his other teenage commitments and interests, Paul found the time to voluntarily patrol for Sorrento Surf Lifesaving Club over 100 hours last summer. This is an enormous contribution from one surf lifesaver, and particularly from one so young.

Paul is very modest about the achievement and just likes to be involved. He likes to train and keep fit and believes that he is learning important life-skills through his Surf Lifesaving training. He likes to know people are safe and says that his surf lifesaving have been useful to him both on the beach, and in the rest of life such as at parties. He is particularly grateful to the instructors who have been his role model since he was a ‘Nipper’. As he heads toward his senior years of school, he hopes that his training will be a good grounding for a career as a firefighter.

Paul was nominated by the President of the Sorrento Surf Lifesaving Club, Ron Morris, who says that Paul is a great example of the sort of young people we need in our society. His story will appear opposite the Surf Club on West Coast Drive in Sorrento (3-16 September) and in William St (opp Lincoln St) in the City (3-16 September), thanks to the City of Joondalup.

For more information about Surf Lifesaving WA check out: www.slswa.com.au

GENINE HUNTER

Watching the joy of Genine Hunter with her ten-pin bowling team at Warwick Bowl, is one of those rare privileges in life. She is constantly and intensely surrounded by love, laughter and conversation as she keeps a track of 22 lanes of bowlers-22 athletes in total.

Genine first got involved in the Special Olympics movement to find sporting activities for her own son-who still attends the ten-pin bowling with her each week. Over time she became more and more involved, supporting the team, and then eventually taking over as Team Manager. Genine not only organises the ten-pin bowling sessions, but also voluntarily helps to run the Special Olympics office-supporting families and events and writing grant applications for funding.

Her Special Olympics athletes have varying degrees of disability from non-verbal through to very high-functioning. They used to meet once a week, but Genine realised that for some of the athletes, this was their only social outing in a week, so she now has training on a Tuesday evening as well (for the first time ever, she missed this session to attend the Soul Gestures launch!)

When asked about how she manages to fit in all the hours she puts in Genine explained how the Special Olympics activities means so much to so many families. It most importantly gives the athletes a great chance to socialise doing something enjoyable. She hopes that this recognition by Soul Gestures may encourage more people to be involved in the Special Olympics here in WA. She would love to see mainstream high school students playing in teams with their athletes on a weekend and people celebrating athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Genine is taking a team of athletes on a tour to Canberra in November and is currently trying to fundraise to get their team there. If you are able to support her in getting her team to Canberra or would like to find out more about the Special Olympics please contact : mailto:specialo.wa@bigpond.com or http://www.specialolympics.com.au (under Locations:WA)

We can see the joy that Genine brings to hundreds of families with her contributions, but she says that she gets more joy out of the Special Olympics than any of the athletes.

Genine was nominated for recognition by the President of Special Olympics WA, Aaron Hewitt. You will find her story at bus shelters on West Coast Drive Sorrento (3-16 September) and on Adelaide Tce near the Causeway East Perth (3-16 September), thanks to the City of Joondalup.

AJ LESTER

AJ Lester (28) is one of those rare people, who just makes you smile with his positive energy towards everyone he meets. A few years ago, AJ returned from travelling overseas and decided, with no job or anything to stucture his time, that he would get involved in volunteering, and then organise his worklife around it. He had always been interested in being a volunteer firefighter so he contact the Fire and Emergency Services (WA) and the State Emergency Services (SES). He was so impressed with their professionalism that he decided to get involved with both.

Nowadays that means that AJ has his volunteer clothes laid out ready, both in winter and summer. In winter he may get called out to support work in flood areas or with storm damage. In summer it is inevitably fires. When he hears weather warnings on the news, he immediately starts to shift work commitments to be available if called upon.

When asked if he ever got scared during some of the big fires, AJ said that always thought he might get scared but with the extensive training he has received as a volunteer, he actually just feels like he is able to get on with the job. There are always a number of them at any job so they support each other in every situation. The mateship has been fantastic.

Although working in the bigger emergencies has been rewarding, AJ always finds that it is the older couples with storm damage who provide him with the greatest satisfaction. They cannot believe that the person standing on their doorstep ready to help them is actually a volunteer and their relief, gratitude and cups of tea are fantastic.

AJ would encourage anybody to get involved in this work as it is personally challenging, different every time you go out and it is a great chance to meet other people. AJ is now involved in the training of new recruits and would be happy to talk to anyone about the work. More information is available at www.fesa.wa.gov.au .

AJ was nominated by fellow FESA volunteer Glenn McLaren and his story will appear on a bus shelter on Dixon Road Rockingham (3-16 September) and Grand Boulevard Joondalup (1-14 October), thanks to the City of Joondalup.



Login Register