Date: 24 September 2015

The team and residents at Whiddon Grafton have a great deal to celebrate, with their volunteers being recognised by the prestigious Centre for Volunteering 2015 Northern Rivers regional awards!

The Grafton Auxiliary took out the Northern Rivers Volunteer Team of the Year Award, while volunteer Max Johnson was recognised as the Northern Rivers 2015 Volunteer of the Year.

The Northern Rivers Volunteer Team of the Year Award recognises the Grafton Auxiliary’s generosity and dedication to making life special for our residents at Whiddon Grafton.

Fundraising activities organised by the Auxiliary to raise money for the purchase of equipment for residents also serve as a source of entertainment, with residents often enjoying courtyard acts, food, plant and book stalls, as well as craft activities and delicious barbeques.

The equipment purchased is top-of-the-line and serves to make life more comfortable for the residents at our home.

The volunteers created rosters for their weekly visits, which involve ice cream runs, beauty therapy and general opportunities for social gatherings where our residents enjoy a good laugh and some banter.

The Auxiliary work tirelessly, meeting regularly to ensure that activites include their whole volunteer team, organising social and community activities such as the Spring Fair and regularly sell raffle tickets locally to help raise money.

The Grafton Auxiliary make an amazing contribution to our Grafton home, dedicated to bringing laughter and fun and ensuring our residents always feel special.

The Northern Rivers Volunteer of the Year Award recognises Max’s dedication and passion for all elements of volunteering at our Grafton home.

Max Johnson

Max began volunteering during a difficult time in his life; after his wife moved into our Grafton home and upon losing his job of 44 years due to a motorcycle accident.

During this tough time, Max says it was the volunteers at our home that helped him through.

“At first, I used to come up on the weekends, because it was just another way to be closer to her then,” he said.

“But after I lost my job, I decided to start volunteering full time – and the friends I made up here were more like a family then a nursing home. Not only did they look after my wife so well, they looked after me, so I decided I’d stay with them.”

Centre for Volunteering CEO, Gemma Rygate, spoke of the important role that volunteers like Max play in improving people’s lives, and helping them to retain their community and social connections.

“Max visits the home every day to talk and joke with residents and be part of their lives,” she said.

“He barbeques, cooks pancakes and even got his bus licence to make outings easier.

“A visitor for the past seven years, Max has continued volunteering at the home even after his wife, who was a resident, sadly passed away. Max knows what it’s like to have a partner in care and how important volunteer visitors are to the residents.” she said.

Max was quite surprised by the nomination, unsure of quite what he had done to deserve it.

“I came along at the right place at the right time almost out of necessity, and I just want to give something back to them because they looked after my wife so well.” he said.

Whiddon Grafton would like to thank the Grafton Auxiliary and Max Johnson for their passion, dedication and hard work in making our residents’ lives special, as well as the many other volunteers who have also contributed their time and effort to our Grafton home and residents.

 

Sources:
The Centre for Volunteering Facebook
The Daily Examiner