Driving force for charity

OVER THE PAST 12 YEARS, CHARITIES BASED IN MELBOURNE AND KYNETON HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THE KINDNESS OF GEMLIFE WOODEND HOMEOWNER JIM BROOK.

Jim says that throughout his working life he had always thought that when he had an opportunity to give back to the community in some way, like volunteering to help a charity, he would do it. So as soon as he became semi-retired, he wasted no time in pursuing his goal.

“I knew a guy that volunteered to help the Red Cross in Melbourne where we were living at the time, so I joined their voluntary patient transport service, an area in which they were urgently in need of drivers and did that for eight years until we moved to GemLife,” said Jim.

Once at GemLife, Jim took on a role with another charitable op-shop and food bank organisation, the Kindness Collective Kyneton, where he drives around to different providers to collect food and deliver it back to the main outlet.

“I love what I do and really recommend others give volunteering for a charity or helping the community in some way, a go. It can be so rewarding both for those receiving the help and for the ones donating their time. Besides, it would be fair to say, this whole country would not function without volunteers – they are so important.”

Jim and wife of 44 years, former nurse Julie, are always ready to lend a hand wherever needed, including at their much-loved GemLife Woodend where Jim served two terms on the Home Owners Committee (HOC). He has also been assistant bar manager for over three years and helps out for events and other activities, all out of the goodness of his heart.