Meet our Volunteers: Lionel Molloy

Some of our volunteers are “the quiet type” – Lionel Molloy fits that category admirably!  Born in Blenheim, in New Zealand’s Marlborough wine region, he trained as a Cabinet Maker.  But Australia beckoned… At age 20 he came across the ditch and… went shearing! This he did for some 20 years. During the off season, he worked in carpentry and forestry. At age 42, an opportunity came to work in the mines of Mt Isa, but 10 years later, ill health (a bad back and bad knees) forced him out. The Gold Coast was the obvious place to come.

One of my favourite questions to ask in an interview is “What books to you like?”  That’s where Lionel dropped his bombshell: “I am a Dyslexic. I can’t read, nor write.” So here goes proof that a severe disability does not prevent somebody from being an active contributor to society. But one can compensate: outside of work, he enjoys listening to Country & Western music, his favourite artist is Tina Turner (yes, she is simply the best!), or watching movies, preferably starring Liam Leeson, Clint Eastwood, Yul Brynner (you are betraying your age, Lionel!).

“So, what are your likes and dislikes?” I asked him. The somewhat unexpected answer “I like Public Transport” shows that, even so he is intensely private, he very much is part of the community; his regular attendance to work at our Project Shed is proof.  “Nelson Mandela and Gandhi are two of my ideals”, he said.

Final question: Which talent would you like to possess most? Not unexpectedly, Lionel’s wish would be “to be able to read”.