.jpg?sfvrsn=2360ba65_1 "Muriel Wroe")
Muriel Wroe is one of St Stephen’s Hospital’s longest serving volunteers.
She joined our dedicated team of volunteers more than 15 years ago when the hospital put a call out for volunteer drivers.
At the time, drivers were needed to help take patients between the hospital, then located in Maryborough, and St Stephen’s new day surgery which had been opened in Hervey Bay.
“I saw an article in the paper that said St Stephen’s needed someone to drive the car from the day surgery to the hospital in Maryborough,” Muriel said.
“And that’s one of the best things that I ever did, going along to the meeting and becoming a volunteer.
“At that time of my life, I had just retired from my job of 17 years working in an office, and for the first time in my life I was feeling bored. I got tired of dusting, and I became a volunteer. It’s meant so much to be ever since,” she said.
More than a decade and half on, Muriel still gets great joy from being part of the St Stephen’s Hospital community.
“I get a lot of satisfaction from volunteering and being able to help people. I like driving, so I get a lot of the driving jobs. Every three weeks, I pick up a lady from Maryborough and bring her to St Stephen’s for her oncology appointments, and that’s been for over 12 months.
“Getting up on a Wednesday morning and hopping into the uniform and driving into the hospital knowing that you’re going to be able to help somebody, you’re being useful. That’s what I like,” she said.
Also a Hervey Bay resident, Muriel said she hopes to see St Stephen’s continue to grow in the future.
“Since St Stephen’s moved to Hervey Bay, it’s become much bigger. The hospital has been able to attract a lot more specialists here which makes it so much easier for people.
“I think everyone in Hervey Bay would be proud of St Stephen’s, even now 10 years on, people still walk in the front door and look up and a lot of them say wow because it looks so good," she said.
Reflecting on her favourite memories from her time at St Stephen’s, it’s being part of a supportive team which stands out for Muriel.
“My favourite time is every Wednesday when all the volunteers get together for morning tea. I really love that!”
Find out more about volunteering at St Stephen's Hospital.