Service is totally voluntary

Woy Woy Peninsula Neighbourhood Service, located in the old fire station next to Woy Woy Library, is the only completely voluntary service of its type in Australia.

The service has more than 600 clients who are all Peninsula residents.

The services include private car transport, shopping for the housebound, haircuts, bus hire, low level home maintenance and a washing service.

It also provides a house cleaning service, a respite care bus run, a lawn mowing and light gardening service and a shopping bus run.

All of these services are provided for a small fee, which contributes to the operating costs of the service.

The service also supports advocacy, advisory and referral services.

It enlists 76 volunteers who provide their services to the Peninsula on a varying basis.

Some volunteers such as Colleen Garland, who has contributed to the service for the past 10 years volunteer five days a week.

Other volunteers help the service anywhere from five days a week to half an hour a fortnight.

Ms Garland said every volunteer contributed significantly to the service whether they helped three days a week, once a fortnight or once month.

"Every little bit helps and we are always in need of more volunteers, especially bus drivers to drive one of our three buses," said Ms Garland.

Audrey Somner and Betty Johnson are volunteers who have also contributed to the service for a long time.

Ms Somner has volunteered with the service for 14 years and Ms Johnson for 26 years, since it was established.

The service is jointly funded by the State and Federal Government which provide $24,000 a year towards the service.

Ms Garland said the funds pay for the fuel needed to run the cars of the 16 drivers who volunteer and for the maintenance of the three buses and one car which is owned by the service.

The money also pays for the cleaning products, equipment and other products used by the service.

For details about the services or to volunteer, contact Woy Woy Peninsula Neighbourhood Service on 4341 8837.

Amanda Jackson, May 28