With a little time on her hands Frances decided to take a tour of local op-shops to see if any could use a hand.
“I had volunteered at an op-shop down in Melbourne when I worked, for about two Saturdays a month,” Frances said.
“So when I came here that’s what I gravitated towards.
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“I went around all the op-shops in town and I popped into Yooralla in Nunn St, and they were so friendly I knew it was right for me.”
That was 17 years ago, and Frances has been with Yooralla ever since.
Even overseeing its recent move into Benalla's RSL rooms.
“Moving the shop has been the biggest change in my time,” she said.
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“Our volunteers are such a friendly group, and it’s a cliché I know, but you do get back more than you give.
“We’ve got ladies who might do just a day a month, up to some who come in regularly and it’s about how much time they are happy to commit to and what they want to do.
“The group is so good, we have a great comradery, that's with all the people here and with the customers, too.”
Frances said the volunteers at the Yooralla op-shop had become like a family.
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“On top of all the great things volunteers do for a charity like Yooralla, it is also a great network to make friends and meet new people,” she said.
“We get together and have a bit of a social side to it.
“Next week we’re having an afternoon tea and we periodically get together to bond.
“A lot of us are pensioners and we all get the free train trip, and we are known to go down to Melbourne for a day out.”
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Frances said while there were volunteers in communities across Australia, Benalla seemed to have more than others.
“I think Benalla has something special,” she said.
“I used to do meals on wheels, with my husband, and council have a lunch once a year for its volunteers.
“One year they told us that Benalla was in the top 10 towns for volunteers Victoria wide.
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“That doesn't surprise me.”
● Yooralla is currently looking for volunteers for the op shop. If you are looking for an opportunity to get involved and give back to the Benalla community, whether it is for a few hours or days a week, contact Yooralla’s Jenifer Morris-Cosgrif by email volunteers@yooralla.com.au or phone 0407 010 476.
The Yooralla op-shop is open Monday to Friday, 10 am to 3 pm.
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