Volunteer Judy – the retiree that never left

Meet Judy, an exceptional volunteer at Regis Cranbourne who is committed to making a difference in the lives of the Regis community. Though she only began volunteering in January, her journey with Regis started more than a decade ago when she worked as a cleaner at Regis Frankston for almost 10 years until her retirement in 2020 due to COVID-19.

Since retiring, Judy realised that she missed the company of the residents and wanted to give back to the older members of the community. This led to her becoming a volunteer at Regis Cranbourne, which is close to her home, to give back in a meaningful way. Judy’s presence is felt throughout the Home, thanks to her versatile and resourceful helpfulness.

Gail, the Lifestyle Coordinator at Regis Cranbourne, shares how Judy has become an asset to the team; “Judy has become an integral part of the Lifestyle team and is always willing to help wherever she can…. She’s made genuine connections with the team and residents here.”

Twice a week, Judy goes in to assist with their Coffee Clubs, provides one-on-one social support, and takes residents out on walks to the park.

Judy loves spending valuable time with the residents, hearing about their days and listening to their life stories. When asked what she loves most about volunteering, she said, “It gives me a sense of satisfaction that I can bring a smile to the residents’ faces. I feel as though I have found a purpose in my retirement life where I can give something back to the older community.”

Judy has been a part of the Regis community for over a decade and she is immensely fond of it. She shares, “Everyone has been incredibly friendly and welcoming since I started and it brought me back to when I worked as a cleaner at Regis Frankston. I now know that this was something I was missing and that’s why I decided to come back and be a volunteer; to become a part of people’s lives and provide purpose and kindness back to our lovely residents.”