Meet Our Volunteers

If you heard just a few minutes about Bob’s work and business career, you could be forgiven if the term ‘Jack of All Trades’ springs to your mind.  After all, over a lifetime of honest toil, he held such a wide variety of trades. But, looking at it a bit closer, you’ll learn that upon…

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 is a true Queenslander! Born in Redbank (for those of you not familiar with the local geography: the suburb before Ipswich). He is the son of a local coal miner, graduated from Ipswich State High and proceeded to study Architecture at the Central Technical College (today, the Queensland University of Technology). “In those days,…

Paul is one of our newest recruits who joined our wheelchair project team at Arundel only just last month, in October. Originally from the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Paul is a qualified Electrical Fitter and Mechanic by trade. He has worked in a variety of positions, ranging from ‘Housing Work Contractor, to Frequency Testing, Injection…

“I went to about 6 different schools” Peter explained. No, not because he was one of those impossible kids who always get expelled!  His father’s work as an earthmoving contractor simply demanded that they live where the big contracts were.  Born in Thornton, North-East of Melbourne near Lake Eildon, the family ultimately settled in Shepparton…

He might not be the longest-serving Associate Member at our project shed (he joined our team in 2021), but certainly Rick is one of our most active ones. But what a distinguished “pre-wheelchairs” career! “I joined the Navy Reserve in 1967 as a Radar Plotter (yes, the same guys they use in recruiting advertisements), and retired 51 years…

Born in Sydney where he also met his wife, Damian and his wife moved to the Gold Coast in their thirties. All his three children were born here; one of his daughters is a Bio Scientist, his son is in Real Estate and the youngest daughter is in her prep year. Regrettably, they later decided…

  Bill, the shed mascot, builds moral, and helps you finish of your morning tea when you can’t finish that last bite. He’ll greet you, and accept as many pats as you’re willing to give him.

Picture in your mind a typical Australian farmer. What do you see? Probably same as me: at least 6 ½ foot tall (that’s about 195 cm for those among you who have forgotten imperial measurements), the physique of a Half Back, a bit taciturn, can go for hours without saying a word… OK, those of…

    ‘A genie gives you a single wish. What is it?’ is one of my standard questions when I interview somebody. Bryan, who is sort of Volunteer ‘Foreman’ at our project shed, answered without hesitation: “To regain my health”, which underscores his valiant health battle. The permanent illness, which affects his nervous system, was…