89-year-old wins volunteer award
JewishCare worker Dorothy Clarke has won the prestigious Southern Sydney Volunteer of the Year Award conferred by the Centre for Volunteering.
Dorothy shows her award
Dorothy is the President of the Triple S Friendship Club, which is one of JewishCare’s 11 Friendship Clubs around Sydney, providing regular opportunities for active elderly people to get together, have fun and learn. She is 89 years old.
For the last five years Dorothy has been spending more then 10 hours a week volunteering for JewishCare; organising bus outings, Sunday walks, visits to the local Guild Theatre as well as the weekly meetings which take place at the Southern Sydney Synagogue in Allawah. She also visits local JewishCare clients, volunteers as a mentor at the Gymea TAFE where she helps older women to become computer literate and teaches a course at the Benevolent Society Rooms in Hurstville in conjunction with her involvement with the University of the Third Age.
Eva Fischl OAM President of JewishCare said “Dorothy is defying the typical stereotype regarding the capacity and capability of older people. Dorothy has been setting a wonderful example of remaining active and independent well into what many people may consider to be old age. This award is richly deserved and we hope that she will continue to serve her community for many years to come”.
In accepting the award Dorothy said “I feel uncomfortable when I am congratulated for whatever I do. I help for the satisfaction of just doing. My philosophy is Life is for Living, don’t waste it, be busy, do something for others and use your time wisely”
.
