A committed MercyCare volunteer has called time on 23 years of selfless service, which has included publication of a heritage trail guide and a special music program for elderly folk with dementia.
Jeannine Heinrichs said she had been compelled to “give back” to MercyCare in appreciation of the love, compassion and care shown to her mother when she was a resident at the Catherine McAuley Aged Care Centre in Wembley.
Mrs Heinrichs, a former school librarian, said one of her proudest achievements had been re-establishing MercyCare’s heritage trail and collating a booklet as a lasting record of the local, social and cultural history of the Barrett Street site.
The booklet, which was published in 2008, details the development of the site from its very first years as a mission in Western Australia with the Benedictine monks and Sisters of Mercy.
In addition, Mrs Heinrichs regularly attended the Catherine McAuley Aged Care Centre to play the piano for the elderly residents and developed a music program specifically for those with dementia.
“I started volunteering with MercyCare’s annual book sale, which finished up years ago, and one thing led to another,” she said. “Now, it’s 23 years later.”
“My interest in heritage started when I began to research my own family ancestry and reading of the pioneer settlers in WA which included my family.
“There was such a wealth of information about the unique history of 18 Barrett Street from its beginnings as a Benedictine Monastery to what stands there today.
“We traced the historical journey from 1846 when the Sisters of Mercy first arrived in Western Australia and the fantastic work they have done within our community.”
The heritage project documented the origins of St Joseph’s Orphanage; the Martin Kelly Centre, which served as the orphanage school and chapel; and the St Vincent’s foundling home, where deserted and homeless infants and young boys and girls were raised. It also tells of the Benedictine monks’ olive and oil production that once took place on the land.
Mrs Heinrichs’ family has a long association with the Sisters of Mercy. Her father worked as a volunteer driver for the Mercy nuns in the days when nuns did not drive.
“Volunteering now fills a large chapter in MercyCare’s modern history,” she said. “It is a chapter of my life story I will certainly never forget and I am proud to have been associated with such an amazing, respected and valued group of volunteers.”
MercyCare Chief Executive Officer Chris Hall said MercyCare’s 150 volunteers were an integral part of the organisation and its giving ethos.
“We value greatly the vast number of MercyCare volunteers who generously give up their time to benefit the lives of others in our community,” Mr Hall said.
“MercyCare has people volunteering their time and expertise across many of our services, including child care, refugee and asylum seeker programs, youth programs and aged care.
“These selfless contributions make positive differences to other people’s lives and have a meaningful impact on our community.
“We are very grateful to all of our volunteers and acknowledge their tireless work in the wider community.”
Ms Heinrichs and her colleague, Reverend Lyn Pushong, were recognised for their outstanding work on the heritage trail booklet, winning a City of Subiaco Local History Award in 2009.