A Decade of Giving Back
July 07, 2025
Lorraine’s been volunteering for MND Victoria for a decade. Below, you’ll find her story.
She was first connected with us after her husband, Bill, was diagnosed with MND late in 2010.
In 2023 her dear family friend Wendy, in the UK, was diagnosed with the disease, and she sadly passed away in February 2025.
"To Bill and Wendy, you will be loved and remembered always."
Most of my family have volunteered in one way or another over many years, and my own volunteer journey is entwined with both my working and family life. Volunteering feels like a natural part of life to me.
When our youngest daughter was at kinder, I was asked if I would like to volunteer in the kinder playroom as an assistant, helping children with additional needs. After I began to volunteer, I also did some casual paid days and weeks at various council kindergartens, before working as a full time assistant at my local kindergarten.
I spent 30 years working with wonderful staff, children and families at 2 local kindergartens. I loved it, and felt supported when I had to take carers leave to support my husband Bill. He preferred me showering and feeding him rather than agency carers.
Bill and I married in February of 1970, and in late 2010, after experiencing some worrying difficulties, he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Life changed once the diagnosis came through.
Bill struggled during his roller-coaster ride, quickly deteriorating and losing many abilities, such as his independence, being able to drive, loss of speech and not being able to use his arms and legs, which was very tough for Bill and everyone supporting him.
MND Victoria supported Bill and I during his journey. The loan of equipment was simply the best and I don’t think we would have managed without it, because his needs were changing continually and so rapidly.
Bill sadly passed away at home on 11/08/2011, just a few months after we had welcomed our 5th and 6th grandsons.
From when I returned to work until I retired at the end of 2013, I was thinking about volunteering and giving something back to MND Victoria. Once I saw an ad asking for volunteers, I phoned the Canterbury office and was warmly welcomed as a Newsletter Mailout Vollie, along with Louise and Leonie – The 3 L’s!
I look forward to my Newsletter Mailout shifts. It’s a nice time where we have some music playing in the background, while we pack and seal the newsletters.
It’s always great to have a chat over morning tea. Some faces in the team have changed over the last ten years, but there are quite a few of us who have built a strong and supportive bond together.
Working as an MND Victoria vollie is very rewarding, especially to have previously lived through a journey, knowing what is involved and how quickly things can change.
We need a cure, but knowing there’s care until there’s a cure is so very important. Every time I am volunteering with MND Victoria, I feel treasured because all of the staff, including the CEO, treats us as equals, plus keeping us in the loop on all of the events, updates and changes in the organisation.
Deb and Jacinta, from the Volunteer Engagement Team, organise Volunteer Week outings to places like the Old Melbourne Gaol, State Library, Islamic Museum of Australia and the Seafarers Mission, and celebrations over special days for all of the volunteers. I’d say that these are some of my highlights of my time volunteering with MND Victoria.
I’ve had other opportunities to give back, so I’ve packed carer wellness packs and event kits, folded many t-shirts, helped out at fundraising events, and even appeared in advertisements for the first Great MND Relay, Shut Up! for MND campaign, and brand awareness videos.
My current volunteering role with MND Victoria is quite flexible, if I can’t make it, I just try to make sure I can the next time. Whenever I’ve needed to step away for a little bit, Deb has always kept in touch to see how I’m going and there’s been no pressure on me getting back to Canterbury to volunteer.
Outside of MND Victoria, I have volunteered with Fight MND, Love Your Sister, and at various legacy fundraisers. I’m a regular volunteer at Darebin parkrun and Westerfolds Junior parkruns when I can.
I gave many years when my two girls were a lot younger, to volunteer with Regent Reservoir Swimming Club (now the Preston/Reservoir Swimming Club) and Kingsbury Little Athletics, gaining Life Memberships with the last two. I’ve been on various school and sporting committees and held executive positions—but that was a few years ago!
I do love volunteering, I think it’s important to give back, to show kindness to others and I will continue for as long as I possibly can.
Interested in volunteering with MND Victoria?
Find out about available opportunities at the link below, and contact us to get involved.
Share page