Meet our volunteer, Mark

Meet our Volunteer, Mark

Mark is a familiar face around the Connect Health & Community office and has been supporting the community in a volunteer capacity for more than 20 years for the Salvation Army, Royal Children's Hospital, Bayside Church, Oxfam and Connect Health & Community.

Mark has passion for the outdoors and keeping fit.  A personal trainer, he is also an experienced bushwalker and hiker, and his love of nature has fuelled a career in landscape gardening over the past 20+ years.

Indeed, his passion and skill for gardening has even seen him turn his hand to product development for a hardware store, with his ideas to hit the shelves including a Christmas tree holder, a folding two-tier trolley and most recently a folding wheelbarrow cart that looks set to hit world-wide shelves soon. 

Why did you become a volunteer? 
Seeing what other volunteers were doing inspired me.  I think we are all here to help each other, volunteering is just another way.

What do you do beside volunteer?

I have been a landscape gardener and worked part-time as an orderly at the Alfred Hospital which I loved, I am also a fitness instructor.  I started working at Connect Health as a maintenance officer, looking after our hydro pool, vehicles, gardens and buildings.

How long have you been volunteering at Connect Health & Community, and in what roles?
I’ve been volunteering here for three years as a driver (regular Monday run) and emergency driver.  I am also a volunteer mentor to a group of young students with intellectual disabilities and learning differences from Yarrabah School.  As part the 'Hands Up' program of we provide them the opportunity to engage in a meaningful way with Connect Health through volunteering. This experience will assist the students to prepare for the workforce and life after school.

What has been your best volunteer experience while at Connect Health?
My best volunteer experience is seeing people every day helping each other, and mentoring the special kids’ group.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your volunteering?
I enjoy fitness training, spending time with my two daughters and hiking.  I drive for Bayside Church using Connect Health vehicles to pick up homeless, older people and people with a disability for Christmas lunch.  I serve lunch and drive them home.  I really love it.  

Thank you, Mark.  You really are making a world of difference.

And thanks to all our volunteers.