Alongside her husband Len, the couple have now contributed close to 30 years of combined volunteer service at Junction’s Hackham Community Centre — a place they now consider a second home.
“I came here when my grand-daughter was two and then I took the other grandchildren too,” Lou, 63, says. “I didn’t want it to end. I loved it here so I decided to volunteer.”
What began as a way to stay involved quickly turned into something much more meaningful. Soon after Lou joined the Centre’s volunteer ranks, Len followed suit.
“Sometimes when I came in to pick Lou up, they would ask me to help with the garden, move furniture or hang a picture,” Len says. “They kept asking me to volunteer so I eventually did. Lou seemed to love it so I thought I might like it too.”
Today, Lou plays a key role behind the scenes, assisting with administrative tasks and managing donated goods, while Len – ever the handyman – is affectionately known as a “jack of all trades.”
“I mainly do gardening and maintenance,” the 70-year-old says. “I fix a lot of broken toys.
I certainly feel useful. We get a lot out of it too.
“When I started, there was this one boy who wasn’t connected with his Dad. I was hanging some shelving and he sat with me and asked if he could help. So, I got him to pass things to me and you could see how special it was to him.”
In the years since Lou and Len first stepped through the Centre’s doors, both the local community and the Centre itself have seen remarkable growth.
“When we first attended playgroup there was six or seven families,” Lou says.
“Now there’s about 400 people (at the Centre) each week for different programs. Recently we had 60 children at a playgroup. It was wild, but it made me realise how far this place has come from those early days.”
Maria Palumbo, CEO of Junction, says the organisation is privileged to be supported by a group of around a dozen dedicated volunteers across its housing and community programs.
“Our volunteers complement our workforce adding different perspectives, experience and knowledge,” Maria says. She describes Lou and Len as stalwarts – not only of Junction, but of the broader community.
“We cannot thank them enough,” Maria says. “The positive impact they have on our staff and the people we work with is immense.”
For Lou, the Centre has become more than just a place to lend a hand — it’s a source of strength, comfort and belonging.
“I’ve had health issues but Len knows there are people here to help me if I need it,” she said. “We’ve both found it a safe place to be. It’s a gift in many ways.”
National Volunteers Week begins on Monday, 19 May. More information: volunteeringaustralia.org
