Sisters Kate Roberts and Maured Conroy have been volunteering for over 20 years and love the socialisation and sense of productivity that comes with it.
Meet the dynamic sister duo redefining retirement with 20 years of volunteering and still going strong.
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Corowa sisters Maured Conroy and Kate Roberts have been volunteering for over two decades and wouldn’t have it any other way; they love what they do, and they’re doing it for their own social wellbeing.
This week is National Volunteer Week (NVW), which celebrates volunteers like Kate and Maured and their meaningful community involvement.
It is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering, recognizing the contributions of millions of volunteers across the country and highlighting the positive impact of giving time and skills to communities.
Established in 1989, NVW promotes connection, purpose, and stronger communities while encouraging people to explore volunteering opportunities that suit their interests and availability.
While most of Kate and Maured’s volunteer work is spread between Corowa Library and Vinnies, in Sanger St, they’ve previously helped with Meals on Wheels, and they also sing with Sing Australia.
Kate, now 81, said they were volunteering with the library when it was previously located on Sanger St, and that she does it mainly for the socialisation.
“Volunteering gets you out instead of just sitting around,” Kate said.
“You’re not dependent on your family for everything stimulating.
“I’m at Vinnies seven days a month, and I’m here (at the library) every Wednesday.
“I'm happy with both of them because that's enough; Vinnie's is quite hard work because it has to be run as a business these days.”
Maured is 83 and enjoys volunteering because it makes her feel like she’s doing something productive.
“I’ve been volunteering for over 20 years,” Maured said.
“I was still working at Glenview when I started (volunteering), and my sister-in-law was librarian and she got me involved.
“It's social; I'm by myself, so it gets me out and about.
“You feel you're doing something sensible and decent, something productive, and you meet people.
“It's not exotic, but it doesn’t need to be.”
Kate and Maured contribute to the jigsaw puzzle at Corowa Library.
Corowa Library was previously located at 157 Sanger Street, operating under the Upper Murray Regional Library service, before moving to its current location at 100 Edwards St in March, 2012.
On July 1, 2013, Upper Murray Regional Library service ceased, and Corowa Library then operated within the Riverina Regional Library service.
“At the older library the main thing we did was shelving books,” Kate said.
“We used to cover them there as well with the plastic coverings, and any other jobs they needed doing.
“Now we still do the shelving and make the coffee and or tea, which is important, and we cancel books; you know, stamp them and pull the paperwork out.
“We're in Friends of the Library, and also Sing Australia, where we go and sing at places like Glenview in Rutherglen, and Oolong in Howlong, and we do Anzac concerts.”
Corowa Friends of the Library is a volunteer group who play an important role in the success of the library.
They engage with the community to promote the library service, provide a free home delivery service for those who are unable to visit the library in person, record the audio version of the Corowa Free Press onto CD, and raise funds for special projects.
Anyone can volunteer, with many organisations around Australia operating volunteer services; simply approach your local group or library to inquire.
Kate and Maured are a cheeky pair, with a dash of dry humour and a lot of wit, volunteering for the lifestyle, because it keeps them busy and happy.
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