Corrine Frost is proud to wear an engraved ring in memory of her late baby sister Brigid.
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It was Brigid’s life with Mai-Wel in Maitland that led Ms Frost to her decade of volunteer work with the organisation dedicated to people with a disability.
So devoted is Ms Frost to her unpaid work as The Mai-Wel Group co-ordinator of volunteers that she received the first Frank Higgs Volunteer of the Year Award for 2014.
It is named in honour of Mr Higgs, Mai-Wel’s longest serving board member with 21 years of volunteer service.
His daughter Ruth attended Mai-Wel school at South Street, Telarah, in the 1960s and his loyalty to the organisation has not wavered.
“My sister Brigid was a participant in the COMETS social and recreational program with Mai-Wel,” Ms Frost, of East Maitland, said.
“It was a highlight for Brigid; first attending Mai-Wel school to see her classmates, then with COMETS.
“One day I was dropping her off and I was asked if I would like to be of assistance as a volunteer. I said yes and that was more than 10 years ago.
“Mai-Wel embraced me as part of its family. It is part of my life now every day of the week.
“I am lucky because I get to do what I love.”
It has been five years since Brigid died suddenly, aged 48, and Ms Frost misses her sister every day.
“Brigid had an intellectual disability and did not speak. She started school at Mai-Wel when she was six years old because mum sought it out for her even though they lived at Hamilton.
“She was in one of the first classes at the school.
“Brigid communicated to us all the time by pointing a finger, looking at us, she knew what she needed and wanted. We always called her our good girl and she loved that.
“She was the youngest of seven sisters and one brother. She was so special to us. We adored her.
“We all cared for her, we carried her around and she would get into everything. We talked to her all the time, she would smile, she was very happy to be with us, she never complained and we adored her for that.
“Brigid was always the best company. She would stay overnight with me and came with me everywhere.
“She was easy going and enjoyed her glass of champagne every evening.
“Mum, now 88, cared for Brigid all her life. Her death brought us great sadness and left a void in mum’s life.”
Ms Frost has two nieces who are Mai-Wel participants and her sister Dominique works for the organisation.
“Volunteering is so important and there are so many benefits,” she said.
“Volunteers learn new skills, they work alongside Mai-Wel participants which is such a joy, training and mentoring is provided, they make new friends and are given role descriptions.”
More volunteers are always needed, she said.
“They accompany participants during outings such as grocery shopping, to the library or on holidays, and assist with cooking and craft activities.
“At Mai-Wel, we value our volunteers who are all hard-working and enthusiastic people.”