Red Cross Limestone Coast has recently honoured two of its long-serving volunteers with outstanding service awards.

Greg Jaensch and Barbara Thompson were presented with their awards by Red Cross vice-patron Libby Furner at a ceremony at the humanitarian organisation’s regional base in Mount Gambier.

Red Cross regional services manager David Walshaw described their contribution.

“Greg proudly joined the Red Cross team in Mount Gambier in 2011,” Mr Walshaw said.

“By his own admission at the time, Greg was a very shy person that came to Red Cross with his own life challenges with the idea that he could be of help to those in the community less fortunate than himself.

“He indicated that he had time to offer the organisation and so became a driver in the Transport program, a role he still continues in today.

“With the support of the staff and his fellow volunteers, Greg fitted into the team very well and became a great asset to Red Cross and his confidence grew beyond his own belief.

“Greg continues to drive for Red Cross Transport Service across the Limestone Coast on a regular basis either on short trips around the town or taking small groups on social outings or shopping shuttles in the Red Cross bus.

“Greg has a great rapport with the clients that are taken out on a regular basis and it is evident that he also enjoys the company of other people as much as they enjoy him taking them out as we get many complimentary phone calls and emails recognising Greg’s connections with the clients.”

Mr Walshaw said Mr Jaensch was a much-valued Red Cross Volunteer who continued to be a driver across several programs and had also offered to assist with the handyman program in the past few years doing small maintenance jobs in people’s homes thereby allowing them to remain in their own homes for much longer.

“Greg was also instrumental in the smoke detector initiative which saw smoke detectors fitted for free to the homes of the most vulnerable in our community following a fatal house fire in Mount Burr,” he said.

“Nothing is too much trouble for Greg, not only does he volunteer on a formal basis within program delivery areas, but he also undertakes various jobs for the team such as the delivery and collection of goods to the storage shed, recycling waste products, washing the vehicles and assisting with the set-up of marketing exercises and assisting with the delivery of Christmas hampers.

“Greg will agree that his relationship with Red Cross in Mount Gambier has not only been beneficial for the community but has assisted his own personal confidence and growth.

“Greg is well respected amongst the team and does a fantastic job in volunteering and Red Cross is very grateful of his assistance and support.”

Mr Walshaw said Ms Thompson joined Red Cross in Mount Gambier in 2014, initially as a Telecross caller.

“Shortly after it soon became obvious that not only did she had great communication skills honed over many years as a hairdresser, but she also had great administrative skills as well which could suit an expanded role that Red Cross was looking for at the time,” he said.

“Following the retirement of some long-term volunteer booking officers, Red Cross was looking to replace these positions and Barbara became the perfect choice to assume one of the roles which entailed liaising with clients, agencies and volunteers from across the Limestone Coast and assisting clients with their transport requirements, taking trip details, liaising with clinical staff as well as booking vehicles and drivers and companions for each trip.

“While Barbara is now a volunteer in the booking office it is not unusual for her to jump into a vehicle and pick up or deliver a client because all of our other drivers are tasked elsewhere.

“She can also often be found in the Telecross room making calls because somebody has called in sick for that day.

“Barbara has great communication skills, is efficient, reliable, and has great attention to detail which is a necessary prerequisite for this very important main office role.

“Barbara has also offered her time in the Telecross and Telechat programs where she calls a list of people regularly.”

Mr Walshaw said on occasions Ms Thompson would step up to be a driver if the group was short of volunteers.

“She has also engaged in our TeleREDi heatwave service making calls to people to ensure they are taking care of themselves during catastrophic weather periods,” he said.

“In more recent times during the initial COVID lockdown and the closure of the local office, Barbara stepped up to call clients and volunteers on a weekly basis from her own home to ensure they were well and had essential items for them to remain at home.

“Barbara has also engaged in emergency services training and has offered support to several communities in the past year when there has been collective trauma events in the town and Red Cross has travelled to these communities to support people and refer them to professional services if needed.

“Barbara is greatly valued by the staff and her fellow volunteers, she is a great asset to the team and the wider community and is recognised widely for her commitment, her willingness to step up in times of need and her generosity in supporting Red Cross’ fundamental principles and the communities across the Limestone Coast.”