Around six months ago, Gary, a farmer, decided to spend a few hours each Tuesday at Echuca Regional Health’s Glanville Village, encouraged by his daughter who worked at the hospital.
Since then, Gary has forged invaluable connections with the residents, increasingly adding to his volunteer hours as these relationships grow.
“I look at people, and they’ve all done what we’ve done,” he said.
“I just love talking to them, they’re just awesome people.
“I literally cannot wait to get here ... I started off with a couple of hours and I thought, ‘it’s just not enough time, I’ve gotta spend more time here’.”
Now Gary spends at least five hours each Tuesday at the facility, largely in a companionship role.
He spends time one-on-one with the residents, learning about their lives and sharing stories.
“I have conversations about anything,” Gary said.
“Travelling ... farming, I don’t care what we talk about.
“I love listening to what they’ve done. You think ‘wow, this is incredible’.”
The bond between Gary and the Glanville residents saw them make a trip out to Gary and his wife Annie’s property.
They shared a meal and explored the farm together.
“Seven people came out, and it was just the best day,” Gary said.
“We just cooked up a heap of stuff ... one of (the residents) said, ‘I’ve never seen a rotary dairy operate’ because I’m an ex-dairy farmer.
“So I rang up a mate of mine and said, ‘I’m bringing a heap of people around to your dairy’ while he was milking.”
Former sheep farmer Bill Hayes was one of the residents who made that trip, and eagerly waits for Gary each Tuesday.
As soon as the pair begin chatting, Mr Hayes lights up, immediately exchanging stories about the weather and hay baling.
“I wasn’t expecting anything like it, but it’s very good,” Mr Hayes said.
“It’s given me a lift. (He’s) someone to talk to.”
Many residents simply want an ear to listen, and Gary is able to fill that gap, when staff are busy with a multitude of tasks.
Mr Hayes feels lucky to be taken care of by the Glanville staff and volunteers like Gary.
“The girls working poke their head in and give you a cup of tea and say ‘g’day’,” Mr Hayes said.
“I’ve never seen anything like (Gary) ... I’m just amazed, and I’ve been here five years.
“It’s excellent, the treatment we get here.”
Despite his passion for his work, Gary is different to the typical ERH volunteer, especially in aged care, who tend to be older than Gary and largely female.
He finds the hours on a Tuesday very rewarding.
“It is the best thing I have done, fair dinkum,” Gary said.
“If this is all I’ve got to do to put a smile on people’s face, how cool is life?
“I don’t think I’m doing anything exceptional at all, this is what I like doing.”
Gary encourages more volunteers to step into a role like his, feeling that he is in the right place when he comes in each Tuesday.
“I recommend it to anyone,” he said.
“I’ve told heaps of people ... you talk to these people, they are really interesting.
“I was born to do this.”
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