By Casey Neill
Greater Dandenong could scoop the pool at the Victorian Learn Local Awards.
Springvale Neighbourhood House’s Melinda Hamilton is a finalist for the Learn Local Volunteer Champion award, Training and Skills Minister Gayle Tierney announced on Tuesday 8 August.
Dandenong Neighbourhood House’s Michelle Hood is in the running for the Ro Allen Award, which recognises pre-accredited learner excellence.
The house itself is a finalist for the Learn Local Legend award and the Excellence in Creating Local Solutions nod for its Community Work Partnerships Program.
Dandenong Neighbourhood House manager Robyn Coslovich said Ms Hood came to the house as part of a community service order and started on the mums and bubs program.
“It’s a quilting program we run in connection with the Department of Justice and Regulation,” she said.
“They make quilts for the Dandenong and Monash neonatal units.
“The hospital keeps some of them, so they have a supply, and they send some home with parents.”
The program also makes angel gowns “for the little babies that don’t make it” from donated wedding gowns and cards for a kids’ cancer association.
Ms Coslovich said Ms Hood “wasn’t overly interested” at first and just wanted to get her order over and done with.
But once she’d finished the 12-month stint she sought out a quilting group.
“Michelle came back and volunteered on our asylum seeker community lunch, and with a disability group doing hospitality,” Ms Coslovich said.
“She got to know the students, she engaged with them really well.
“Here at Dandenong that’s one of the biggest things. It’s being able to engage.”
The house needed a trainer and put Ms Hood through the necessary training.
Ms Hamilton answered a newspaper advertisement for Springvale Neighbourhood House volunteers about eight years ago.
She takes classes in sewing, craft and English.
The 66-year-old travels to the house from her Seaford home at least three times a week.
“It’s very rewarding and everybody’s so appreciative of anything you do for them,” Ms Hamilton said.
“Being diverse cultures, I learn a lot from them as well as teaching them.
“It’s not a job, it’s something I really enjoy.
“You feel like you’re with friends and you can be yourself and that’s nice.”
Ms Hamilton said she once mentioned that she liked green tea so students regularly bring in their finds from abroad.
“I’ve got the biggest variety of tea at home!” she said.
“It’s really lovely to have that bond with them.”
The former bank manager learnt to sew at an early age from her mum.
She now teaches the basics and by default helps migrants with their English skills.
“We have discussions about different things,” she said.
“They love talking about their families.
“It’s more like a whole lot of friends together.
“From the volunteering I decided I really liked it so I went and did the course for teaching English as a second language. I do that twice a week as well as volunteering.”
The Victorian Learn Local Awards will be presented on Thursday 31 August.
