Bess Morrison – Volunteer for 50 Years

Which organisations have you volunteered with in your 50 years of volunteering?

I have been volunteering for nearly 50 years. It all started in the 1970s when some friends and I started Family Day Care in Cooma – a small town in NSW. We gave children a safe, community-based place to stay while their mums worked.

From that moment on, volunteering has been part of my life. I’ve volunteered for local school committees, at the local hospital, and for the National Art Gallery in Canberra.

For the last 20 years, I’ve been volunteering at the Centre for Volunteering – helping others discover the joy of giving your time and energy to help others.

What were the reasons you decided to volunteer?

When I arrived in Cooma, I wanted to get to know people in the local community. I had two young children and, as a working mum myself, I could see there was a need for Family Day Care. By helping local children and local families, Cooma quickly became home.

Can you explain a little about the type of assistance the organisations you have volunteered with provided?

For each organisation I’ve played quite a different role:

• Family Day Care Cooma: Organised, supervised (and often subsidised) care for young children – particularly after the school day finished. Equally, we also provided employment for stay-at-home mums.
• Cooma North School Committee: Raised money for the school – primarily to make sure no student missed out on excursions, sport or other school activities.
• Cooma Hospital: Visited patients, often simply for a chat. For example, one long-term patient had me read the newspaper to her; some needed help eating their lunch. I also did shopping on behalf of patients.
• National Art Gallery: Raised money to fund the purchase of a painting for public display in the gallery.
• The Centre for Volunteering: Interviewed volunteers and found them positions to match their skills and interests. The goal was to place the right people in the right position at our Member organisations.

What sort of background do you have? Where did you work? Do you use the skill from your paid employment in volunteering work?

If I had to describe my professional skills, I’d probably say “accounting-based business.” Early in my career I helped keep the books for everything from real estate agents to wool sellers.

Then, for the last 15 years of my working life I built two of my own businesses. Firstly, a highly respected motel in Cooma – catering to the tourist trade and business travellers. Secondly, I helped run a catering business – focussing on helping locals celebrate important occasions like weddings and 21^st birthdays.

Do I use those business skills in volunteering? A little.

What I use more is the ‘soft’ skills learned in business. The interpersonal skills. How to listen. How to see the world from someone else’s perspective. When you’re genuinely interested in people, it’s far easier to connect and help.

What do you love most about volunteering?

I’ve always loved helping people. It makes me happy to brighten up someone’s day or find them an opportunity where they can thrive.

How does it feel supporting people and communities when volunteering?

From the moment we started Family Day Care in Cooma, and I saw how the community responded, I felt genuinely thrilled. It’s still hugely rewarding.

Is there a moment, or moments, which stand out?

If I can only pick one moment, it would be judging “NSW Volunteer of the Year”. I’ve been lucky enough to be on the judging panel for the awards a few times. I love reading the stories of the volunteers who’ve been nominated. Some of them are just exceptional people.

Every year that I’ve judged, it’s been truly inspiring.

What challenges do you face when volunteering?

The only real challenge I can think of is when the computer system changed at The Centre for Volunteering. The transition wasn’t easy – even with our helpful IT expert.

What has surprised you most when volunteering?

I wasn’t expecting the friendships to be as deep or as long-lasting. I’m still friends with some of the founding members of Family Day Care in Cooma. Plus, I’ve built new friendships with the people at The Centre for Volunteering.

I’ve just found that people who volunteer all have a wonderful spirit.

What keeps you motivated about volunteering?

I love helping people.