Volunteer visitor stories – Rahman and Hans

Rahman shares his experience as a volunteer visitor of 30 years and opens up with Hans about their 17 year friendship.

03:01

Rahman

Come on. Come on, boy!

I started volunteering with the community visitor scheme in 1991-92. So this year is nearly 30 years.

When I first arrived in Australia, always looking for the community I live. Actually who they are and how the community is running.

So the local newspaper, there is a little advertisement there, ‘volunteer needed – friends for older people.’

And from there everything is history.

Hans!

Hans

Hey mate!

Rahman

Hi! How are you?

Hans

Good. How are you?

Rahman

Good. Oh, my friend.

Hans

We've been friends for 17 years. I think he’s one of my longest friendships.

Rahman

It’s a pretty long time, Hans.

Hans

Yeah, that's right.

Rahman

Hans is also my longer service friend.

Guess what? What is this?

Hans

Oh, apple pie!

Rahman

There you go!

Hans

I'm very grateful for Rahmen.

We all come here to learn and our greatest teachers are our relationships, our partners. That’s my friend here, my partner.

Rahman

He's my mentor. He's my teacher.

He taught me the philosophy. He make me laugh. And he makes me the wiser.

For the last 30 years, with community visitors scheme, I met with over eight residents or eight of my friends. Combined of their life it is over 600 years.

Each individual is different. They're unique. And I just grab at everything.

Every time I come here, I have a pleasure. I took something from here as his wisdom.

Hans

We look forward to it because it’s like it expands our meaning for living.

We get great ideas being together. It’s like it gives us all a purpose for being here. It gives us a purpose and a reason.

Rahman

Volunteering give me the identity. Volunteering give me the way I belong, my community, my society, my country. It's changed me. I think I am more benefited and richer where I am now.

Volunteering is a privilege. This CVS is very unique recognition of the senior citizen.

This is our time to recognise them. It’s a simple way to say thank you. We are here for you because of what you’ve done for our nation and our community.

Hans

That was very special.

Rahman

Look after yourself.

Hans

Thank you.

Rahman

Have a good day.

Hans

Thank you, mate.

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