JOAN IS THE IDEAL NEIGHBOUR

LOUISA RUST

For most people, being able to go to the shops or out for lunch is something taken for granted.

However, for many frail and elderly members of the community, organisations like Warrigal Care and Community Transport are the only means of leaving home.

A long-time volunteer for the two organisations, Joan Tuck, has been named Shellharbour Council’s Neighbour of the Year for 2007.

The Barrack Heights resident volunteers five to six days a week, allowing frail residents to go out for lunch, shopping trips and other activities.

“When my husband passed away I was looking for something to do for a few days a week.

“Now, I’ve got no days left,” she said.

“The ladies and gentlemen we pick up really appreciate it and we enjoy it just as much as they do.”

When asked why she filled her days helping others, Joan said it made her happy.

“It makes me happy and it makes other people happy, so that’s why I do it.”

As well as helping Warrigal Care and Community Transport for the past 11 years, Ms Tuck also volunteers for Interchange, a program offering people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to participate in community activities such as ten pin bowling and swimming.

Ms Tuck received her award and prizes at a morning tea held by Shellharbour Council at Lamerton House last Wednesday.

Although the awards were announced in October, Ms Tuck was unable to receive her prize until last week, as she was overseas.

“I didn’t even know I had been nominated,” she said.

“Someone rang me up and said ‘I read about you in the paper’.”

Ms Tuck won a Bunnings barbeque worth $500 and a $200 Stockland voucher.

Runner up for the competition was Lake Illawarra resident Rosa Ballerini.

Ms Ballerini was nominated for her generosity and kindness. She regularly makes cakes and biscuits for her neighbours, and always has time for a chat.

“I love the people that live here,” she said.

“I like to be friends with everyone. All the time neighbours’ children come up and say ‘make a cake for me, it’s my birthday’.”

Ms Ballerini said she found it difficult when she first immigrated to Australia from Italy 21 years ago.

“It was hard because I couldn’t understand everyone,” she said

“Then one day my son came home from school and said I could learn English at the school at night.

“I wanted to learn. I finished work then I did the cooking for the children’s dinner, then I would go to school at half-past-seven till half-past-nine.”

A ‘Yearbook’ containing the stories of Neighbour of the Year nominees over the past six years will be launched by Shellharbour Council next January, but is currently available on request. For more information, call Craig Swaney on 4221 6170

Caption: Last year’s Neighbour of the Year Rodney Spinks and this year’s winner Joan Tuck with Community Transport volunteers Andy Cunningham, Amanda Lee and Isobel Wallis.