When Lesley Schulz started her nearly 50-year involvement fundraising for Mitchell House in Morwell, the nursing home was merely an idea on paper.
“There wasn’t even land … there was nothing, Ms Schulz said.
“You kind of think you’re banging your head against a brick wall to get it up and going, and it happens. It started with units being built, then the hostel.
“It’s good when you can see something with your efforts.”
The Morwell resident was one of the founding members of the Mitchell House Ladies Auxiliary who continue to place a fundraising event on the community calendar about every six weeks.
Among sausage sizzles, fashion parades, gingerbread decorating activities and high teas, the volunteers send small gestures to the residents of the facility, including on Mother’s Day.
“Everyone got a flower on their breakfast tray,” Ms Schulz said.
“At Easter, they all got an Easter egg … so it’s not just raising funds for material things.”
Ms Schulz said she thought she was “roped into” volunteering in the beginning but now views her involvement as something completely “special” to her.
“Anyone that is thinking about volunteering, go for it, because you can form some wonderful friendships,” she said.
In the early days the auxiliary established “a good name” for catering in the region without advertising and the group often catered for Morwell Shire events, government departments and even weddings.
Casseroles, salads and pavlovas “seemed to be the go” at weddings, and Ms Schulz recalls late functions which would have the volunteers driving home in fog after midnight.
“It was fun but as we got older it was hard work,” Ms Schulz said.
She described the auxiliary as “like a virtual family”.
“I’ve heard other people say I wish we had that friendship and closeness the ladies at Mitchell house have,” she said.
