Volunteering for life: Remembering Mercedes 'Billie' Clarke and Marie Miner
Former CEO of The Centre for Volunteering, Margaret Bell AM, and former staff member, Jan Cosgrove, remember two of The Centre's well-loved and missed volunteers: Mercedes 'Billie' Clarke and Marie Miner.
A tribute to Billie Clarke
Margaret Bell AM 
What could it mean to volunteer for life, does it mean volunteering throughout one's whole life, volunteering to gain more life, a more solid reason to get out of bed in the morning, or does it mean volunteering for the life of the other. Mercedes 'Billie' Clarke would have said "yes" to all three suggestions. Billie was a real trouper. She lived a full and exciting business career spanning twenty five years as company secretary for Sun-Alliance. They loved her and deeply regretted her eventual decision to retire.
Billie had always balanced life/work choices long before it became talked about. She was a keen and highly successful yachtswoman and very close to all her family members often speaking with pride of nieces and nephews and godchildren many of whom stayed regularly with her and all of whom came to Billie for that little something by way of care and attention.
When Billie joined the then Volunteer Centre (now The Centre for Volunteering) in 1983 she joined a small band of excellent volunteers who worked tirelessly as interviewers. She interviewed other potential volunteers and went to no end of trouble to find the perfect placement for each one in one of The Centre's member organisations where the individual would have a rewarding experience as a volunteer. All interviews were conducted face to face, records were handwritten and placements were made over the telephone.
Within a couple of years the electronic era was upon us and Billie was one of the first to master the dreaded computer. How we all laboured over getting it right, the right programme, the right computer, the right placement. Many found the transition too hard but having mastered the mystery of it all Billie then trained others. Her long and valued volunteer career exceeded the years she had spent as company secretary. She gave another entire working life time to working as a volunteer a remarkable contribution to what is now known as The Centre for Volunteering and to volunteering itself. The premises moved to four different city locations during her period of service volunteer member organisations exceeded 900 and volunteer placements eventually counted in the thousands. She mastered it all.
Staff loved Billie. She was fun, clever, insightful and just good to be around. She was in everything but never gossiped, she assisted, encouraged and enjoyed her colleagues and clients She had a wonderful fashion sense and looked absolutely great in the leathers, in tailored suits and dressed for the Spring Carnival too. Nothing was to much trouble for her and she will long be remembered by the thousands of lives she must have ultimately effected. A life thoroughly well lived. We miss you Billie, rest in peace.
The passing of a gracious lady and a true volunteer
Jan CosgroveMercedes Clark, known to us all as 'Billie', sadly passed away recently and is greatly missed by all of us who knew her. The Centre for Volunteering's volunteers, staff and Board knew her as a person of integrity, who understood the ethos of volunteering and its level of importance to the community and was dedicated to The Centre for almost 30 years.
Upon retirement Billie came to the original NSW Volunteer Centre in 1980 and was joined 18 months later by Mary Miller who had just come to Australia from the UK. Billie and Mary developed a strong friendship that lasted for the next 28 years. Such is the nature of this type of shared work and the wonderful friendships that develop through the generosity of the true volunteer spirit.
When Billie started working with the Volunteer Centre, all records were hand written and interviews were all face-to-face. She saw many changes and with her colleagues faced with great poise challenges which included with the introduction of the information technology era and the changes within The Centre itself. Having recently turned 90 years old Billie saw these changes reflected though-out the community that she served so well in her professional and volunteer life.
Remembering Marie Miner
Margaret Bell AMMarie died very recently at 95. She and Billie were good friends and great volunteers together. Marie was an extremely competent personal assistant to New South Wales most senior police officers during her professional life. Her career culminating as personal assistant to Police Commissioner Avery during his period in office in that capacity. She received the Public Service Medal for remarkable service to the community and came to the then Volunteer Centre as the volunteer personal assistant to Heather Buck the first Executive Director of the Centre in 1979. She continued in this appointment when Margaret Bell became Executive Director and when a full time assistant was appointed remained as a volunteer support person to the Executive Director on a day a week basis until 1994.
Marie was proud of her work, always giving of her best and enjoying all that she did. She had a great sense of humour and was a strong supporter of Fletcher Jones next door to the Centre whose new season stock she found hard to resist!. Marie always looked very smart and walked tall. She and Billie were good friends. They lived not far from each other and belonged to the same Probus Club which they enjoyed and served loyally. Board Chairman at the time Peter Davidson always spoke of Marie with great admiration and was only too happy to entrust any correspondence on his behalf as Chairman to her capable hands. Marie will be sorely missed by all those who thought of her with great respect and great affection.
Requiescat in pace Billie and Marie.