If you’ve ever worn, used or bought some of the fabulous creations coming out of the Cottage Crafts workshop, there’s a fair chance there was a bit of Liz McIvor’s passion for volunteering stitched into the seams.
Starting out as a volunteer at Minda in 2017, Liz’s initial hope was to use her own love of crafts to help Minda clients with their creativity, but a lack of vacancies saw her channel her efforts into assisting with the annual women’s golf day as well as the regular gift wrapping stalls.
“The next year there became a vacancy so I’ve been working in there and still occasionally help out with the gift wrapping,” she says.
“I wanted to do some voluntary work because I’m retired, and I just felt that I needed to do something different. I have a brother in the UK who had a brain aneurism and he does something similar in the UK so I thought that would be good for me to do.”
Helping clients with their handcrafted items as well as turning some of them into everyday products like aprons, bags and potholders, Liz’s passion for her role and the strong relationships she has built has seen her nominated for the Premier’s Certificate of Recognition for outstanding volunteer service.
I wanted to do some voluntary work because I’m retired, and I just felt that I needed to do something different.
The nomination hailing not just her rapport with clients and staff but also her unmatched skills on a sewing machine. There was even a suggestion that support leaders would like to be able to clone Liz to have her available all the time.
“I felt really privileged (to be nominated), I couldn’t believe it because in the last two years I felt like I haven’t been doing as much as I should be.
“But as Hollie who nominated me said, ‘When COVID was on you still came to the door and collected stuff and took it home’, so I was still actively working just not in the workshop.”
“I feel very honoured and privileged.”
Liz McIvor