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The joy of volunteering is in the blood

12 May 2014
The joy of volunteering is in the blood

Pam has been volunteering for The Salvation Army for 14 years. (Credit: Photo by Lauren Martin)


“I think volunteering gets in your blood,” says 74-year-old Pam Tucker, who has been helping others through The Salvation Army for 14 years.

After retiring and travelling around Australia with her husband, Pam returned home and soon told a friend she was feeling bored.

That friend, who had worked with Pam in airport security years earlier, happened to be managing the Cairns Salvation Army Family Store and invited Pam to drop in.

“I came down for four hours on the first morning, I started at nine and finished at four, and I came in every day afterwards!” says Pam.

Although she enjoys sorting and selling donated goods and furniture, Pam says the most meaningful part of the role is supporting people who are struggling.

“You get them coming in crying and you want to cry with them…You’ve got to understand them and listen to them,” she says.

There is the challenge of being tough and dealing with “the cheeky ones”, laughs Pam, who “think they can have what they like for nothing”.

Less than a year ago, with her “body telling her to slow down,” Pam retired from volunteering and says it was “lovely” for the first few weeks.

“I could go to bed when I liked, get up when I liked, cook if I wanted to, clean if I wanted to, but then you think ‘what am I going to do today?’ so I came back to the Salvos.”

Pam has encouraged her daughter and grandchildren to volunteer in the store on occasions and says it is a wonderful role for retirees.

”It keeps your brain working and you feel that you’re doing something with your life, you’re not wasting it,” she says.

“You’re occupying your body as well. You’re giving your body exercise, even if you are standing there sorting clothes, you’re still exercising your body, not vegetating.”

When asked if she has also made friends as a volunteer with the Salvos, she laughs and says, “crumbs, yes!

“They come into the shop and give me little presents and things like that. And with the staff, we’re all friends. Even the casuals that are ‘work for the dole’ after a couple of days you (become) buddies with them as well.

“Everybody works as a team and interacts with each other, so that’s all really good.”

By Naomi Singlehurst and Lauren Martin

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The Salvation Army acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures; and to elders both past and present.

The Salvation Army is committed to ensuring the provision of safe and inclusive environments for children, young people and vulnerable people where they feel respected, safe, valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. The Salvation Army is a child safe organisation.