Glenda delivers joy to Dimboola residents

If you didn’t know better, Glenda Eldridge would look like any other team member working at Dimboola Nursing Home. 

She can be found interacting with residents three days per week, between 10am and 4pm, and often returns on weekends. 

The difference is, Glenda is a volunteer. 

Every hour she puts in on site, plus the many more spent conjuring ideas and activities at home, is voluntary.

“I do all sorts of activities with the residents; they love card games and Bingo or a ball game,” she said. “I also visit residents in their rooms and just make conversation, especially the ones that don’t get many visitors. 

“I love being with the residents, pranking them and stirring them up and seeing them enjoy themselves.” 

Glenda is always on the look-out for a reason to celebrate residents and staff. 

“I decorate birthday cakes really fancy, in their footy colours or something else they love,” she said. “They love an occasion, it doesn’t take much to entertain this group.” 

Before retirement, Glenda worked as a Personal Care Worker at the Allambi community-run aged care facility. 

It came after a career pivot, at the age of 53, following a list of colourful jobs and interests. 

“I’ve had my own fashion label and I’m a qualified chef,” Glenda said. “I had a health-food shop in Melbourne, with a restaurant next to it; and I owned a café in Geelong.” 

Glenda, who was born in Dimboola and raised on a farm in Antwerp, returned to her hometown to work in aged care. 

“I love aged care, I think I was always made for it,” she said. 

One of seven children, Glenda often helped her mum care for siblings and keep the family in order. 

“Mum was always a very caring person and we always did things together,” she said. “She would be out in the paddock and I’d go in and start cooking tea from the age of about nine. I always felt that responsibility to help out and care for others.” 

When the aged care facility she was working at closed its doors, Glenda lost her sense of purpose. 

“People tend to think that, when you’re over 70 you become useless, so I’m proving them wrong,” she said. 

“I was bored, and missed using my skills and bringing joy to people, so I started volunteering. I enjoy it and I live on my own, so I can do what I darn well like." 

Grampians Health is deeply grateful to our incredible volunteers whose compassion and dedication make a lasting difference to our patients, residents and staff every day. Our volunteers truly enrich the lives of many, and we thank them for all the work they do.  

If you would like to volunteer at Grampians Health or would like further information about the volunteering opportunities, please visit our website: Volunteer - Grampians Health