At 81, Patrick Roberts is not about to rest in retirement. After a career in the banking sector throughout the state, he finally found the Illawarra and has made volunteering and offering opportunities to others a life-long endeavour. His efforts should continue to be lauded.
As Patrick gets older, the way he contributes has changed. He knows his limits. He can rely on others for their expertise, including his wife Yvonne with her technical abilities. He has stepped slightly back, but never away.
In 2017, Patrick was awarded the prestigious Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his community service. This has included working with the Shellharbour-based Cram Foundation, a not-for-profit accommodation and associated services provider for people with disabilities.
“Their objective is to provide the best possible life for those who aren’t always able to do everything for themselves, and they need that 24/7 care,” Patrick says. “I realised how important these organisations are. They ensure these people have homes and support.”
He joined the board in 2001 to ensure the success of hostel and group home accommodation.
Patrick has been honoured with lifetime membership of The Cram Foundation.
He has also spent many years volunteering for Rotary. This has included taking on the position of District Governor, District 9750, from 2005-2006 and 2008 and being responsible for about 55 clubs and 1500 members, from Sydney to Kiama.
Patrick is also a former president of the Rotary Club of West Wollongong.
“I was attracted by the breadth of engagement within Rotary. It is an international organisation that works for the betterment of others and general understanding within cultures.
“There are over 1.2 million members in over 200 countries.”
As well as its student exchange program, Rotary offers numerous programs to feed the hungry and help the poor. It has undertaken polio-eradication programs and leads a fight against malaria with insecticide-treated nets.
“The impact has been astounding. Malaria creates poverty and especially impacts on the male, who is unable to work, which further forces families to suffer.
“The Rotary organisation sees opportunities, and ensures things happen. Often, fundraising is an important component, cooking and selling sausages, and it is a costly personal exercise to be a Rotarian.”
For Patrick, volunteering offers enjoyment, camaraderie and the fellowship of others, particularly when travelling.
“There is always a place for meetings, opportunities to build networks and embrace people… and to learn about them. It draws people together and we work well together, on a local and international scale.”
Patrick’s future will undoubtedly include more volunteering, but with a focus on specific roles.
“I am happy to do things like building a park in Wollongong and creating a fundraising barbecue.
“I really look forward to Citizenship Nights with special recognition to those newly Australian. The talks, speeches and even poems offer a special inclusion for people making Australia home.
“It is a big first step and it is crucial we make them welcome and included in all parts of our communities. I too feel special when included in such events.”
Patrick and many other volunteers continue to offer opportunities to those who may not otherwise receive them. It is a remarkable legacy.
Writer Janice Creenaune is a volunteer for the PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) Foundation. For more info, contact janicecreenaune@gmail.com
