When it comes to helping the disadvantaged, Roz Blades has been much lauded for walking the walk.
As a life member of the charity Springvale Benevolent Society, Ms Blades has volunteered for decades making home visits, delivering food and other essentials to the needy.
“She didn’t blink,” SBS president Joe Rechichi said.
“She was wired in a different way.”
Ms Blades, who this week resigned as mayor and councillor on Greater Dandenong Council, was a willing ally for charities like his.
She made sure the council knew how best to support agencies that helped on the ground.
“As a councillor she gave to the community 100 per cent.
“She’s been a fantastic person for not just her ward but for the whole of Greater Dandenong.
“She dedicated her life in schools, in kindergartens – you name it. You go through the records of the Journal and she’s been there in everything.
“People like Roz are few and far between. She’ll be greatly missed.”
Only months ago, as mayor, Ms Blades highlighted a “crisis” among charities stretching by the growing numbers of homeless and struggling families in Greater Dandenong.
Her rally call unleashed a flood of food donations and help from a kind-hearted community.
“The community at this point of time can’t afford to lose Roz,” Mr Rechichi said.
Mr Rechichi felt some relief that Ms Blades made the “tough decision” to resign.
He said she needed to prioritise her failing health for she had many years of community contribution to give.
“Two weeks ago, I had a chat to Terry (Ms Blades’ husband). I said to him Roz’s health worries me.
“She’s been going flat-chat for some time and she’s gone too far.
“She’s that type of person that she can’t say no.”
Teresa Rechichi, Joe’s wife, served with Ms Blades on the former City of Springvale Council in the 1990s.
“It’s very disappointing news,” Ms Rechichi said of Ms Blades’ resignation.
“But her health has to come first.
“As far as the community goes, she’ll be a great loss because she would reach out to people.
“She lived for the community itself.”
Ms Blades, who was first elected on Springvale Council in 1987, was the most dedicated councillor that Ms Rechichi had experienced.
“From the start, you could tell that nothing was going to be too much trouble for her.
“Now when I want something done and I don’t get onto the council officers, I get onto her – and it’s done. And usually on the same day.
“There’s a lot of people who relied on her.”
