As a part of this year’s National Volunteer Week celebration, we will share stories about our wonderful volunteers and highlight their contributions to the local community.
Let’s get to know Anne-Maria Falvey!
Anne-Maria Falvey is one of the three finalists in the Volunteering Queensland Volunteer of the Year Award 2022. Presented in honour of an individual who has made an exemplary voluntary contribution and who through their volunteering has made a significant impact on Queensland’s well-being.
Anne-Maria has been volunteering at Ipswich Hospital for 11 years since starting in 2010.
During this time, Anne-Maria has been a long-standing Meet & Greet hospital volunteer, the friendly face of the hospital entrance, assisting patients and visitors find their way around the hospital.
Anne-Maria also plays the piano for patients and usually plays Santa visiting the patients and staff of West Moreton Health at Christmas.
She volunteers in the Oncology Day Unit, supporting patients as they await and undergo their Chemotherapy treatments in more recent times.
All the work Anne-Maria does in our community in addition to IHF. For example, on most afternoons, Anne-Maria will drive out to collect end-of-day baked goods from various bakeries around the Ipswich Area and deliver them to Rosie’s – Friends of the Street for outreach teams to distribute to local churches and nursing homes.
Anne-Maria volunteers with Rosies on two of their street van teams. She also assists St Vincent de Paul Society Ipswich with their Monday outreach home visits and volunteering at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Ipswich’s Coffee on Wednesday (COWS) morning tea program. They serve free coffee and a chat to those in need of social support.
Anne-Maria is a tireless volunteer who cares for every person she meets.
