Four years ago, Judith Brooks saw an ad for the Cancer Council GAPS group.
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The service was seeking volunteers and she joined up.
“I was interested in having some community involvement, particularly as I knew very few people,” she said.
“So this was two fold, to do something worthwhile in the community as well as creating the opportunity to meet new people.”
The General and Practical Support (GAPS) program is a free service offered to all cancer patients in the Highlands.
It is made up of 15 volunteers who give up their time to drive patients to their treatment and appointments. The service also offers home help but over the past 12 months, the need has mainly been for transport.
In the last financial year, the Southern Highlands GAPS service transported 427 passengers and travelled 29,148km which took 939.9 hours of volunteers time.
Jobs are emailed to all volunteers who can choose which jobs they would like to do.
Ms Brooks said she tried to work with the same patients as often as possible.
“It gives them continuity. You get to know them and they’re more comfortable.”
GAPS volunteers use their own cars to transport patients but are reimbursed by the Cancer Council.
Now retired, Ms Brooks worked in Human Resources for 30 years and also takes part in other volunteer activities. She said the flexibilty was a great aspect of the service as well as the reward of helping people in the community.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone in the Southern Highlands who has some time in their day to commit to assist those in our community who are experiencing some turmoil in their lives.
“It is extremely rewarding and all the current volunteers in the GAPS group would welcome others to participate and share the activities of this extremely valuable program.” Volunteers can take on as little or as much as they want.
Ms Brooks said no particular skills were required to be a GAPS volunteer other than empathy and access to a vehicle.
“We really need more volunteers. The more we can get, the more we can support the local community.”
For more information on the GAPS service call 0428 681 926. The cancer council has information about support services at cancercouncil.com.au or call 13 11 20.