Balwyn Evergreen Centre celebrates the volunteers who keep community thriving
- May 5
- 3 min read
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
Date: May 2026
From shared meals to bus runs, exercise set ups, social catch ups with members and the quiet jobs that keep everything humming, Balwyn Evergreen Centre is recognising the volunteers whose care helps older people feel welcome, supported and connected.
This National Volunteer Week (May 18 to 24) Balwyn Evergreen is celebrating the people who give their time in ways both visible and quietly powerful, helping create the warmth, rhythm and sense of belonging that sits at the heart of the centre. This year’s theme, ‘Your Year to Volunteer’, is a fitting reminder that volunteering can take many forms, and that every contribution matters.
Balwyn Evergreen Centre CEO, Tina Hogarth Clarke, said volunteers are central to the organisation’s identity and to the everyday experience of the people who walk through its doors.
“Volunteers shape the feeling of Balwyn Evergreen Centre,” Tina said.
“They are often the first smile, the steady helping hand and the reason someone feels comfortable, included and cared for.”
“Balwyn Evergreen Centre was founded by volunteers more than 68 years ago and that spirit still carries through today. We are here to help older people stay active, connected and well, and that simply would not happen without the generosity, energy and care of our volunteers.”
Among those being recognised this National Volunteer Week are Jessie Lim and Cameron Seidel, two volunteers whose roles look very different, yet both speak to the same spirit of practical kindness and community care.
On Mondays, Jessie helps as a dining assistant and cook, creating a welcoming atmosphere around mealtimes and supporting the flow of the day with calm care and a generous presence. She is also involved with the Boroondara Chinese Senior Citizens Association, helping strengthen cultural connection and community ties through the centre’s Monday activities.
“For me, volunteering is about bringing people together,” Jessie said.
“I love seeing people sit down, enjoy a meal and have a good chat. Even small moments can make someone feel seen and included, and that is what I really love about being here.”
Cameron is one of those volunteers whose impact can be felt across the whole centre. He helps with driving, exercise set up and event support, while also taking care of the practical jobs that keep things running smoothly, from taking the bins out to sweeping the front entrance. His contribution is hands on, reliable and deeply valued.
“Having left behind the corporate world in late 2022 and after taking a gap break, my sister, an aged care nurse, suggested volunteering. Being a local boy, signing up as a minibus driver with the Balwyn Evergreen Centre, suited perfectly and has been far more positive and liberating than I could have imagined.
“Sharing stories and having meaningful conversations with passengers, other volunteers and the wonderful caring staff at BEC, has also brought new social connections and a deeper sense of community, Cameron said.
“What has really struck me though, is that finding personal happiness as a volunteer, has been a most effectual contribution to the happiness of others.”
Tina said Jessie and Cameron reflect the many different ways volunteers enrich life at Balwyn Evergreen Centre.
“Jessie brings warmth and connection around the table, while Cameron brings that wonderful can-do attitude that helps everything run well behind the scenes,” Tina said.
“Together, they show that community is built through all sorts of acts of care, some big, some quiet, all of them important.”
“National Volunteer Week is a chance to say thank you, but it is also an invitation. There are so many ways to get involved, and people do not need to fit one mould to make a real difference. If you have time, heart and a willingness to be part of something meaningful, there is a place for you here.”
Balwyn Evergreen welcomes volunteers from all backgrounds, from those who enjoy conversation and companionship, to people who love cooking, events, transport support or lending a hand wherever it is needed.
Whether it is once a week or once a month, volunteering at Balwyn Evergreen offers the chance to build connection, confidence and community.
