Serving and Giving Brings Joy to Resthaven Resident Helen

Resthaven Westbourne Park resident Mrs Helen Doley spends her days thinking of others. Whether it’s sewing clothing items for the charity Samaritan’s Purse or making cards to donate to an organisation caring for families of road accident victims, Helen finds joy and purpose in using her skills to brighten someone else’s day.

‘It probably started when I was five years old and I volunteered to be the milk monitor at school,’ Helen, who is 85 (and a three-quarters) years young, says. ‘I loved it. I’d take the milk around to everyone, and I remember drinking my own from the glass bottle with the cream on the top. Whether it was hot, cold or indifferent it was delicious!’

The milk bottles were covered with a hessian bag with a large piece of ice on it to help keep it cool, but Helen says that when it was 40 degrees, there wasn’t much hope of that!

A student at Walford Anglican School for Girls, Helen was taught to sew as part of her education.

‘We were also taught tapestry,’ Helen says. ‘And I made a tapestry bag that I recently donated back to the school for their archives.’

A change of address

Helen moved into Resthaven Westbourne Park in February 2023. A volunteer at the site previously, she was familiar with the people and culture and thought it ideal for her situation.

‘I was diagnosed with early onset dementia, and I decided this was the place I wanted to be,’ Helen says. ‘So, I walked the five streets from my house to here, and asked if I could have a room!’

Resthaven found her a spot, and Helen now looks out to the treetops where the blossom and birds delight her senses. Within her suite, Helen has set up her sewing and craft area, complete with a new sewing machine (after she gave her previous one away to her great-niece) and plenty of space to cut out her patterns and complete her art.

Each Thursday Helen attends the craft day at the Westbourne Park Uniting Church – just across the road from her home at Resthaven.

‘I spend most of my time making something,’ Helen, who also crochets blankets for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, says. ‘I enjoy the sewing and crochet work, but the best part is giving things away to people who need them.’

Helen and her husband Bruce, who sadly passed away in 2019, once ran a youth club in the area, catering to around 100 children in its heyday.

‘It ran for 32 years, and we organised non-competitive sports for the children to take part in,’ Helen says. ‘We also ran a drop-in centre after that with board games and things for the local kids to do. Both groups ran their course, but we enjoyed them immensely.’

Their eldest son was educated at Urrbrae Agricultural High School, and over the years, Helen and Bruce had 13 boys from the school boarding with them at various times.

‘The students who stayed with us had families who lived rurally,’ Helen says. ‘So, they needed somewhere closer to stay. When one finished his “Certificate in Agriculture” another from his area would ask if their son could board with us. We used to take them out to a restaurant once a term and it was an interesting experience. One always had lamb because he was breeding sheep, another always had fish, and some were adventurous and tried Mexican and other dishes.’

Helen has kept in touch with many of the boarders – in some cases she attended their weddings and says that many of them now have their own grandchildren.

Being closely associated with the school Helen would often buy seasonal fruit and vegetables from the school market, as well as eggs, and even hog’s head.

‘I would make a delicious, jellied aspic meat dish,’ Helen says. ‘Although probably not everyone liked it, and probably not many young people even know about it these days.’

Helen volunteered with Resthaven for more than 25 years, also volunteering with Meals on Wheels for more than 51 years. She received a beautiful Royal Dalton lead crystal vase in recognition of her service. This is now kept in the China cabinet in her room.

‘I have a wonderful life here at Resthaven,’ Helen says. ‘I have been very fortunate with my serving and giving.’

Thank you for your dedication to charity causes and volunteering over the years Helen – you are an inspiration!

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