Mavis Mason is one of Redland Hospital’s longest serving volunteers, helping staff, patients and visitors for more than 20 years.
She first started volunteering in 2003 with her husband, Keith, not long after they both retired.
“Keith was asked to help with the photocopy machine because that was part of his old job,” Mavis said. “Then he said, well, Mavis can help out too and here we were just a few weeks after leaving work to retire,” she said.
The couple volunteered together for many years before Keith passed away in 2010. Mavis says continuing to volunteer gave her comfort and a sense of belonging.
“Since then, it’s been like a little family," she said. “The staff always include me. Volunteering gave me something social to do after Keith passed away, but it was also something we once did together.”
Over the years Mavis has taken on many jobs, from photocopying discharge folders to helping the pharmacy team with stock, bottles and labelling.
“I do all the little jobs that save the staff time,” she said.
Now in her 80s, Mavis still comes in every week.
“If you’re on your own, you can go days without speaking to anyone. Volunteering gives you a reason - you’ve got to go out and get up and it keeps you going.”
Redland Hospital Executive Director Greg Nolan said people like Mavis were an incredibly important part of the team.
“Volunteers like her make a real difference to staff and patients,” he said.
If you’d like to volunteer at Bayside Health Service you can learn more online.