Volunteers

Volunteers are essential to the operation of programs run by Myrtle Cottage. Without the assistance of volunteers we would be unable to offer the level of support to a member that is required for them to participate fully in the activities we offer.

Volunteers participate in the areas they feels most comfortable while assisting members where they need it the most.  The types of volunteer activities include: driving buses (C class or LR Licence required), assisting drivers during transport of members, kitchen duties, assisting members with crafts or games, cleaning of the building, general maintenance  and other activities.

How to become a Volunteer

You can become a volunteer by contacting the Cottage (refer to 'Contact Us' for details). The Staff will provide details of the next scheduled Volunteer Induction (normally every 2 weeks except during December and January). The Induction will take up to 2 hours depending on the number of people attending and questions. It will give you the basic information about Myrtle Cottage including polices and procedures. You will be provided with a manual outlining the details covered during the induction.

If after the induction you wish to become a volunteer with Myrtle Cottage, the best day to attend, programme and areas of assistance that suits you as well as Myrtle Cottage will be discussed.  Then a start time and date will be arranged with you. 

Phone: (02)9426-3100

Volunteer Testimonials

Anne:  I have been a volunteer for about 15 years.  I became a volunteer because after I left work I needed to fill in some time productively.  I feel so appreciated by the members for any assistance I give them.  But if the truth be known the pleasure is all for me.  All the thanks needed would be to see them smile, be happy and enjoy their day out.

Chris: When I retired from full time work I decided I wanted to help society in some small way.  I had read about Myrtle Cottage in an article in our local newspaper so decided to check the place out.  Surprise two + years later I am still volunteering at the Cottage.  I work in the dementia (daily) respite unit and assist with the activities such as craft, games, singing and gentle exercises.  The members, staff and volunteers interact well with each other.  If you want to feel good, have fun and contribute to a good charity, with dedicated and friendly staff, volunteer at Myrtle Cottage.

Christina: My name is Christina and I volunteer at Myrtle Cottage every Thursday.  I retired from the workforce 5 years ago and heard about Myrtle Cottage from a friend and have been involved now for four years.  I find volunteering at Myrtle Cottage a very uplifting and enjoyable experience.  The members are a very cheerful group and really enjoy the craft activities and hopefully our company.

Coral: My name is Coral and I have been a volunteer for ten years and also have helped on the buses and the Bell program.  Each day has its own reward bringing interest and fun to the members in a variety of ways.  We have new craft projects each week, outings, games and exercises.  Working together on these projects enables members to make friends and maybe feel less lonely at this time in their lives, they look forward to a day out of the house and being cared for.  For myself I enjoy spending time getting to know members and volunteers and the felling of being useful in some small way.

Heidi: I have been a volunteer for Myrtle Cottage for the past years. My reason for doing so is very simple:  it makes me feel good.  Myrtle Cottage has broadened my outlook and helped me develop my “people skills” and has given me an insight of what life may be like for me a little further down the track.  It is good to feel useful and I enjoy the company of the members, the other volunteers and the staff, all of whom I have found to be compassionate and caring people.  Myrtle Cottage is like a “home away from home” and you feel you are among friends and you treasure each special smile that comes your way with a “thank you”.  It is enough to keep me volunteering for another 5 years, health and circumstances permitting.

Jerry: I am 69 years old and volunteer at Myrtle Cottage.  On retirement from accounting, I spent six months indulging myself with shopping at leisure, visiting friends, travelling, etc.  After this time I decided there must be more than this to retirement.  A close friend of mine was a past manager of Myrtle Cottage and we often talked of the positive things that were happening, so I decided to visit the Cottage with the intention of becoming a volunteer.  I have been volunteering for the past three years.  During this time I have met many wonderful people and my experience with helping the members is most satisfying.  I enjoy helping with craft activities, outings and generally chatting with the members.  An old friend of mine once told me “the joy in living is giving” and this came true for me at the cottage.

Karen: I started volunteering at Myrtle Cottage over 5 years ago.  I had always been involved with my daughter’s school up til then, helping out where I could but as she got older and needed me less I started looking for something else.  An advertisement in the local paper for Myrtle Cottage caught my eye.  I was trying to decide whether Myrtle was something I would want to do, when I found myself, a few days later, following a Myrtle bus on my way to the shops and took that as a sign.  Since then I found Myrtle Cottage to be a very rewarding and uplifting experience, made many friends amongst the other volunteers and with many of the members.  I now can’t imagine not coming to Myrtle each week.  Helping members with craft or just sitting and listening to their, sometimes wonderful stories, has become a highlight in my week.

Margaret:  For me being a volunteer at Myrtle Cottage is very fulfilling.  I get satisfaction helping others knowing I am making a bit of a difference in their lives.  As a shy person I find Myrtle Cottage a friendly place and feel comfortable there.  Being a volunteer is a very rewarding job and makes me feel good about myself.

Margaret: My role is assisting members.  Centrelink informed me about Myrtle Cottage and helped me to sign up.  I am getting out, meeting people and I have made many friends.  I have been a volunteer at Myrtle Cottage for 5 years.  I am helping frail aged and I like most of the volunteers that I work with.  Expressions of my thoughts are, the staff members are more than willing to help with any problem.

Pauline: I have been a volunteer at Myrtle Cottage for 2 years and2 months attending on a Monday in the DT program.  I initially volunteered as I had retired from work and even though I had many things to do I have always liked to volunteer in some capacity.  I saw an article in the local paper about Myrtle Cottage and remembered my mother was a volunteer at the original cottage in the 1980’s so thought I would see what it was like.  So I am still there and I really get so much enjoyment being a volunteer at Myrtle Cottage and love talking to the members, hearing their stories and having a good laugh and assisting in whatever way I can.  What a wonderful program that enables the members to have a day (or more) at Myrtle Cottage.

Sarah: My role at Myrtle Cottage is a volunteer driver.  I have been with the cottage for 7 years now.  I do a wide range of activities at the cottage ranging from transporting members to assisting on the Diversional Therapy program on a Wednesday with the younger members with a disability.  I love the happy environment and the welcoming attitude of all people involved with the service.

Sharene: Myrtle Cottage, what a wonderful place to volunteer.  The members are unique individual’s whom I lave to see each week.  Staff, you couldn’t get better staff to work with as with all the volunteers exceptional.  I would not want to be volunteering anywhere else.  Love coming in every week to see members do crafts, activities and interact with all at Myrtle Cottage.

Versatile
Outings and OHS
Loyal
Understanding
Nurturing and new members
Training
Exciting
Evacuation Drills
Recreation and raffles