Award for Helene Gonski
Sydney’s Montefiore Home has announced that volunteer Hélène Gonski recently won the 2015 Woollahra Council Senior Citizen of the Year Award.
Helene Gonski with Woollahra Council Mayor Toni Zeltzer
The Woollahra Citizen Awards recognise outstanding work to the community.
Hélène was chosen for her voluntary work with the Life Story program at Montefiore. For the past 7 years Hélène has been listening to the stories of the residents, recording their oral histories and writing them up. When complete she provides a book to the residents and their families.
Hélène visits the residents at Montefiore every week. She also helps residents in their daily lives to branch out into art, music, knitting and more.
Hélène says that being involved with Montefiore is most rewarding work. There are benefits for both her and the residents. “I’ve learnt about different countries. Residents tell me about their past lives in Europe, Africa or during the holocaust. There is a great friendship that grows between us. Likewise, the residents enjoy my companionship and look forward to my weekly visits,” she says.
She received her award from Woollahra Mayor Toni Zeltzer.
Mazaltov Helene,
A very well deserved award which goes some way to recognising your wonderful commitment to the community. As we all know, you are quite a gal.
Congratulations Helene on an award thoroughly well deserved.
You have brought a lot of joy to those whose life stories you have written and to their families – preserving their family histories for generations to come.
Kol Hakavod to Montefiore Home for making this program possible.