1st October 2024

For this group of retirement living residents, giving back to the community is more than an act of kindness, it is a way of life. In the latest edition of our Tidings magazine, we meet three of these dedicated ladies to learn more about them and their passion for spreading positivity. 

Dianne May has done a myriad of volunteer work throughout the village, but her desire to help others started well before Bentley Park. 

"I've always been that way. I suppose growing up in a small country town, it's just in your nature," she said. 

About six years ago, Dianne was at church when she saw a group of people knitting woollen teddy bears. She struck up a conversation with them and was amazed to discover the purpose behind the bears, which in turn inspired Dianne to take part herself. Today, Dianne's teddy bear tally has reached 468 and counting!

Each one is individually handcrafted with an abundance of love and care, before being donated to a range of charities across the state; providing comfort and companionship to those who need it most. 

"They go to a few different organisations, mostly to Wheelchairs for Kids, but a number of them also go to local women's refuges, particularly around Christmas time."

One resident who has witnessed firsthand the positive impact these kind gestures can make, is Glenice Sanders. Glenice spent over 20 years volunteering for Radio Lollipop, eventually becoming the Volunteer Coordinator at St. John of God Murdoch. 

In addition to recruiting and mentoring the team, a key part of Glenice's role was to spread joy and positivity to children throughout the hospital; often delivering them gift bags with handmade goods inside, including knitted teddies. 

"I absolutely loved it," she said, "Being able to make a child smile, it truly brightens your day." 

Throughout her time, Glenice became close friends with Radio Lollipop's Melissa, who shared more about the role. 

"The volunteers provide children with that special one on one time to lift their spirits and help give them that sense of normality. For even just a short amount of time, the children can forget why they are there and have some fun through play, laughter and smiles. 

And those teddies! The kids love running out looking for them. They are one of our most requested gifts." 

While the rewarding role has countless highlights, there's no denying it comes with its own set of challenges. This is where Wally comes in handy. 

"My puppet Wally has been with me from the start," explained Glenice, "Everywhere I went, he went with me. Wally gave me confidence during those trickier times." 

"He's a great icebreaker with the kids, because it's not always easy to connect," Melissa added. 

Glenice agreed, "When you knock on that door, you don't know what you're walking into or who you might find. Making the kids happy though, that's always the main thing; you've got to have fun and you've got to be wacky!" 

Resident Dee Sanders knows all too well how daunting hospitals can be, and therefore finds purpose in helping to bring some light. 

"My daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and lost all her hair as a result of the treatment," she shared, "One day when I was visiting her in hospital, she told me about this big box they had that was filled with beanies for patients to use after losing their hair." 

With that, Dee began handknitting beanies to donate to the Oncology Ward; making a variety in different shapes and styles, some even made to match the colours of AFL teams. 

"My mum introduced me to knitting as a little girl, and beanies are something I'd been making for years," she explained, "It felt good to know my skills could be useful and that my beanies had somewhere meaningful to go." 

Dee lived in Darwin for 20 years, where she says doing something for others was simply part of the culture. On that note, Dee worked there as a Speech Teacher and spent most of her life helping children in the community find their voice. 

"There was this one young girl I used to teach who was incredibly shy and had a difficult time speaking. Not long ago, I ran into a man with the same surname and realised it was her brother. I asked him what she is up to now, and he said, 'Oh, she travels the world as a professional lecturer.' - I was so pleased to hear that!" 

Earlier this year, Dee joined Glenice, along with several other ladies, to a Teddy Bears Picnic hosted by Dianne. The morning tea was the perfect opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate one another's generous contributions and achievements; proving that giving back to the community can help you find a community of your own. 

If you would like to contribute to any one the excellent causes mentioned in this story, please reach out to the residents involved to express your interest. No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.