Margaret’s Story

“I just wanted to feel useful again.”

When Margaret retired after 38 years of nursing, she thought she’d enjoy the quiet. And she did — for a while. But after a few months, something felt missing.

“I missed being around people,” she says. “I missed having somewhere to be.”

A friend suggested she look into volunteering, so Margaret visited Volunteering Geelong. She expected paperwork, long forms, and confusion about where to start.

Instead, she met Sarah at the front desk.

“She just sat with me and asked what I enjoyed,” Margaret remembers. “Not what skills I had. Not what qualifications. Just what made me happy.”

Within a week, Margaret was matched with a local community centre, helping run a weekly craft and conversation group for seniors. The onboarding was simple — a quick chat, a short induction, and clear guidance about what to expect.

“It was so easy. They handled everything. I just showed up.”

What Margaret didn’t expect was how much she would gain.

“There’s one lady, June, who barely spoke the first session. Now she saves me a seat and brings extra biscuits. We laugh the whole time.”

Margaret says volunteering didn’t just fill her time — it gave her purpose again.

“You don’t realise how much you need connection until you have it back.”

Now she volunteers every Wednesday, rain or shine.

“And the best part? I feel useful again.”