Volunteers lend a helping hand…and ear

Posted 19 July 2012

The Sydney Cancer Centre has a comprehensive information centre and patient support program, financed by a grant from The Chris O'Brien Lifehouse at RPA. Volunteers play a vital role in the program and will continue to do so when the centre transitions into the Lifehouse facility next year.

Joanna Goodenough, who coordinates volunteer activity on behalf of the Sydney Cancer Centre, says a free transport service for patients is hugely successful thanks to the generosity of volunteers. Patients are incredibly grateful to volunteer drivers – and drivers in return feel greatly rewarded.

"The current service wouldn’t be possible without the commitment and dedication shown by all of our volunteers, who take time out of their week to provide this essential transport service for patients and their families," Joanna says.

Jock Keene (pictured) has been volunteering as a driver of the Courtesy Shuttle service since last September. A professor of marine science at Sydney University, Jock transfers patients undergoing treatment at RPA to Central Railway Station and back, enabling patients from regional NSW to attend treatments.

"People travel from the central coast, Mudgee, Dubbo, even Wagga and sometimes they like to share their stories with me," Jock says. "People are really appreciative of the service and I like doing my bit for community."

Kia Motors kindly provides a Grand Carnival for the shuttle service, which runs from 9.00am until 3.00pm each weekday.

A home transport service also operates for cancer patients travelling to appointments at RPA, in a vehicle generously donated by The Honda Foundation.

Sadie Dugdale, an ex-nurse, is one of the Honda Odyssey’s drivers and has been involved with volunteer work for over a year. Sadie says she began volunteering at Sydney Cancer Centre after driving a friend, who was undergoing treatment, to and from appointments.

“I was about to retire and thought I’d give it a go,” says Sadie. “Volunteering is special because I meet wonderful people who are often at a vulnerable stage of their lives and share a real bond with them. Sometimes they talk about cancer, other times they tell me about their families, but either way it’s their time and I am just happy listening.”

When we speak to Sadie she is about to drive patient Vilma Valentin to a radiotherapy appointment and the two are chatting and laughing like long-lost friends.

“I couldn’t be without this service,” Vilma, who is in her 70s, she tells us. “It’s needed by more and more people these days. I find it very sad that there are so many young people having treatment for cancer and I’m just so glad people like Sadie are willing to give their time and warmth because it makes a real difference.”

Combined, the two courtesy transport services have completed more than 2,000 passenger trips to date, with over 500 driver hours volunteered.

If you’d like to know more about volunteering with Lifehouse you can contact Margaret Lazar on (02) 9515 0000 or email margaret.lazar@lifehouserpa.org.au