From Scones to Speedway: New Resthaven Resident Alison’s Life of Volunteering

Every Tuesday morning, residents at Resthaven Mitcham enjoy a Devonshire tea service – scones served with jam and cream, and tea or coffee poured into fine China teacups with saucers. It’s a tradition that goes all the way back to the mid-1980s, and one which former volunteer Mrs Alison Sparkes, 93, now a resident at Resthaven Westbourne Park, helped to instil.

‘There was a group of us every week who went along and made Devonshire tea for the residents,’ Alison says. ‘The oldies loved it – and now I’m one of them,’ she laughs.

Together with the other 'Devonshire Morning Tea Girls' – Glenda, Joan, Audrey and Lyn – Alison was recognised for her efforts by the Mitcham Council with a special community services award in 2000. Alison also volunteered at Resthaven head office, stuffing envelopes for special send outs with other ‘Pack and Chatters’. All up, she volunteered with Resthaven for an outstanding 28 years, retiring in 2014.

But it wasn’t just at Resthaven where Alison’s volunteering helped improve the lives of others. She and her late husband Peter, who was a volunteer bus driver with Resthaven for more than 20 years, were involved in the local motorsport scene, specifically in motorbike racing. Peter was a Clerk of the Course and Alison was his ‘right-hand man’.

‘Peter was a mechanic,’ Alison says. ‘And he was mad about everything car and bike related. He raced at Kilburn Speedway until he crashed and broke his ankle. Then he moved to officiating road races at Mallala and later Adelaide International Raceway at Virginia. I remember one year we were there on my birthday. I stepped up onto the mound in the pits to look out at the track, and someone in the offices above called out, “Happy Birthday Alison!”. Peter hadn’t remembered because he was too involved in the race – but everyone else on the track knew!’ she laughs.

The couple also officiated at the Australian Motorcycle Championships at Phillip Island, Victoria, for about 14 years.

‘Peter was involved in checking over the bikes, and I would check the safety gear of the riders, such as their helmet and leathers,’ Alison says. ‘

There was no prize money awarded in motorbike racing at the time, so when competitors came from interstate, they would stay at Alison and Peter’s house, christened ‘Sparkes Motel’.

‘I was famous for my pasties and my cockles,’ Alison says.

The couple were close friends with many within the sporting circle, including well-known names Glen Dix and New Zealand rider Graeme Crosby.

‘It was Peter’s hobby, but I thoroughly enjoyed it,’ Alison says.

In the days when Peter volunteered to drive the Resthaven bus, Alison would go along too.

‘I would help out with the bus trips,’ Alison says. ‘I remember quite a few years when we would do the trip up to Lobethal at Christmas time to see the Lobethal Lights. We really enjoyed it.’

A dance and a storm

Alison and Peter both grew up in the Colonel Light Gardens area, Peter five years her senior.

‘A friend of mine was part of the Church of England, and they had a small dance hall next door to the church,’ Alison says. ‘Occasionally we would go there for a dance, and I would see Peter there and we would do the military two-step together.’

Alison says that her friends were interested in going to the Palais Royal Dance Hall on North Terrace, as none of them had ever been there.

‘We all arranged to go, but I thought “who am I going to take with me?”. I was part of the Methodist church (which discouraged dancing), so there was no one there I could take, so I rang up Peter and asked him if he would come with me. He said yes and we went together.’

The night they went, a terrible storm hit Adelaide.

‘At the Palais, the lights went out while we were dancing,’ Alison says. ‘But the bigger news we heard was that the Glenelg Jetty had been washed away. The next day, Peter called past to see me and we went down to have a look at it together. That was when it all started.’

The couple were married on 2 January 1954 at the Colonel Light Gardens Methodist Church. They were eligible for a war home, Peter having joined the army in 1945 (at a time that turned out to be just two months prior to peace being declared), and they moved into it in 1956. Alison and Peter had three children, born in 1958, 1961 and 1966. Alison now has five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Alison and Peter lived in the same home until Peter passed away in 2019, and Alison moved into Resthaven Westbourne Park in June 2025.

‘We are the only people who have ever lived in the house,’ Alison says. ‘It’s going to auction soon, and we will be having a farewell afternoon tea at the home for the neighbours the day after. I’ve always been the street grandma, looking out for everyone. I’m not in anyone’s pockets, but I know all the kids’ birthdays and help out if I’m needed. They also looked in on me. One neighbour would put my newspaper on my back porch each morning, and another would put my bin out and then bring it back in for me.’

A talent for craft

Making teddy bears and knitting rugs, Alison is a mainstay of the craft group that meets weekly at Westbourne Park Uniting Church (just across the road from Resthaven). In her new room, Alison has displayed some of her craft work, with exquisitely handmade teddy-bears lining her window that looks out to one of the home’s central courtyards.

‘I’ve been going to Craft Thursdays for about 30 years,’ Alison says. ‘And now it’s just straight across the road!’

Her involvement in the community over many years means that Alison already has a few friends at Resthaven Westbourne Park, and we’re sure it won’t be long before she makes many more.

‘Some of them are mothers from the school when my kids were there, others are people from the neighbourhood, or the church and the craft group,’ Alison says. ‘I’m enjoying the activities here, and I try to go to everything that is on offer.’

Of moving into Resthaven Westbourne Park, Alison says, ‘It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made!’

‘I’m quite happy, the staff are very pleasant, and the food is very nice. I like it a lot!’

Welcome Alison! And thank you for your years volunteering with Resthaven.

Find out more about Resthaven