This double act is well practised in the art of service with a smile.
Werribee’s Margo Kendall and Dawn Evans have spent a combined 80 years as volunteers with Wyndham council’s Meals on Wheels program, with Mrs Kendall notching up 45 years of volunteering this year and Mrs Evans 35 years.
The pair spend one Friday each month driving around together to deliver meals to elderly residents who continue to live independently at home.
Mrs Kendall, 81, first signed up when she saw an ad in the local paper.
She was joined by Mrs Evans, 78, about a decade later.
The two women, who were friends long before they joined forces as volunteers, have also spent more than 30 years with the Baptcare Wyndham Lodge ladies auxiliary, helping to raise more than $330,000 in that time.
Mrs Kendall described their volunteering as “a privilege”.
“It’s allowed me to grow … you learn a lot about yourself,” she said.
Mrs Evans added: “Margot motivates me. She says, ‘Would you like to …’, and I join up. I get a lot of satisfaction from it.”
The friends are among a host of volunteers who will be celebrated at a morning tea later this month to mark National Volunteer Week.
Wyndham council family friendly city portfolio holder Mia Shaw said about
15 per cent of Wyndham residents were currently volunteering.
“It always amazes me how many people give up their time and energy to selflessly help others and make Wyndham a better place for us all to live,” Cr Shaw said.
