Judy celebrates 20 years of helping people
Judy Cowie is celebrating 20 years as a volunteer with BreastScreen Queensland Brisbane Northside office at Chermside, helping countless patients, families and staff.
Judy Cowie was volunteering at the school tuckshop when someone asked a simple question that would change the next 20 years of her life.
Would she be interested in volunteering with BreastScreen Queensland?
“My sister had previously been diagnosed with breast cancer, so I decided to give it a try,” Judy said.
BreastScreen Queensland provides free breast screening to women in Queensland. They aim to save lives through early detection and reduce the burden of breast cancer.
Since 1991, BreastScreen Queensland has performed more than five million breast screens and detected more than 25,000 breast cancers.
Earlier this year, Judy was officially recognised for an impressive 20 years as a volunteer at BreastScreen Queensland Brisbane Northside office at Chermside, helping countless patients, families and staff.
She is one of the more than six million Australians who make a difference by volunteering for a range of organisations each year.
Every Monday, she undertakes several roles to help staff and clients including:
- Interacting with and supporting clients waiting for appointments
- Tidying and maintaining a welcoming waiting room
- Administrative work such as putting letters in envelopes, packing promotional gift bags
- Tasks for the nurses such as making ice packs
- Putting linen away
- Gardening in the BreastScreen courtyard, including watering and pruning
- Assisting with gathering clients’ survey responses.
The desire to help other people has kept Judy coming back as a volunteer for two decades.
“It’s the friendships that I have made,” Judy said.
“The sense of being able to help and feel like you are doing something of value.
“I enjoy being a friendly face, a reassuring presence for people who come in and may be unsure of what comes next.”
When she’s not volunteering, Judy visits her husband and spends time with her family, which includes several grandchildren.
She plans to continue volunteering in future and bringing flower cuttings every Monday to help brighten the waiting room.
BreastScreen Queensland (BSQ) Service Manager Annette Saleta said Judy generously gave her time and energy to support the BSQ team and clients.
“From filling cold packs and lending a hand at community events, to offering a friendly smile to our clients,” Annette said.
“Judy’s quiet commitment to our service has made her an integral part of our team’s story and we are truly grateful to have her.”