Who wants to be a Volunteer ? How did you first hear about the Council? I’m not sure who told me that the council existed but I do remember looking through the phone book and finding it listed. I rang, left a message requesting information on everything and impatiently waited for its arrival. To my surprise, in 2 days information had arrived. Unbeknown to me at the time, my prized info was sent by Ray, a truly dedicated volunteer who was working from his lounge room (there was no office or staff in those days). Why did you decide to become a volunteer? At first, I didn’t want to be a volunteer. I did want to help other people get information and support (remembering what it had meant for me) but when Colin asked if I was interested, I didn’t think there was anything I could really do. I had never worked in an office, I had no clerical skills and computers intimidated me (I couldn’t even turn one on, let alone use it). Emotionally I was a bit up and down, so making a regular commitment was also a bit daunting. I did want to help in some way though, so I offered to help out at crisis times, like when requests were made for large quantities of ‘What you need to know’ booklets or pamphlets. There wasn’t room to swing a cat in the office so Colin would drop off photocopied pamphlets for me to fold at home.
Julie (our first editor) started working part time for the council and I was at the office more often helping make information packs in any free space we could find. I looked forward to spending time with her, being able to talk to someone openly about hepatitis C was a rarity for me. It felt good to help others get the basic information I was so appreciative of. I was most interested in news and research, trying to get a handle on hepatitis C. I was becoming familiar with the Barr Smith library, spending time reading current journals, steadfast in the idea that eventually I would understand some of what I was reading, and I did. The office workload was increasing and Colin offered to send me off to a typing and using a PC course if I could commit to a half day per week. Ironically, I was already volunteering for more than a half day, it was the formality that scared me; I didn’t have much confidence in myself back then. But I was thirsty for information and wanted to share it with others and for this I would need computer skills. So I became the research and resource aid for the council.
One day Colin asked if I would be interested in attending a meeting about a newsletter for people in SA affected by hepatitis C. I thought a newsletter was great idea, but was still was reluctant to become involved. Colin suggested I just come to the meeting with no obligation to do any thing. Doug, the two Julies, Colin and I met in the kitchen at the Joslin complex (the closest room with chairs and a table to the office) and the Hep C Community News was conceived.
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Hepatitis C Community News
I haven't changed much in 30 years
Issue 17