Georgina and Jim Olivieri are life-long Brimbank residents who married 27 years ago. The couple have been volunteers at Sunshine Hospital for 14 years. They talk about their experiences:
What suburb do you live in?
Jim: St Albans. I grew up in Leonard Avenue when it was all stones and gravel. It used to be called Bungalow City in those days because 99 per cent of the houses were bungalows.
How did you meet?
Georgina: My parents had a bungalow out the back, and Jim’s best friend used to rent it. Jim would come and visit … [sometimes] I would be outside. One thing led to another and we became friends and got together. I was 29, Jim was in his early 30s. We dated for about a year then we were engaged for a year and then we got married.
JO: We’ve been married 27 years this year.
What do you like about Brimbank?
JO: I like it because it’s five minutes away from the countryside. I’m not a city person.
GO: We’re in the middle of Deer Park and Sunshine, near all the shopping centres. St Albans has got everything – its own railway station and buses.
If you could change one thing about Brimbank, what would it be and why?
GO: The level crossing in St Albans, but I think that’s getting changed anyway.
JO: We’ve been pushing for years for that. But also better parking down the shopping area, around Alfrieda Street and Main Road, and more public amenities. They’ve got a new toilet block – it was supposed to be in the centre [of Alfrieda Street], close to the shops, and it’s three-quarters of the way up Alfrieda Street.
What is your favourite Brimbank eatery or place to get a coffee?
GO: Hughies in Kings Park. It’s only a new place, open about a year. It used to be a $2 shop. It’s great for a meal.
When and why did you start volunteering at Sunshine Hospital?
GO: We’ve been volunteering for 14 years. Jim had a bypass, and we were both home. I said I wanted to do volunteering … he decided he was going to join me. I do Thursdays and now I’ll be doing Wednesdays as well.
JO: I do half-day Mondays in the afternoon.
What kind of volunteering do you do?
GO: I used to do the visitors’ guide, but now I work in the op shop and auxiliary shop. Jim does patient information.
What do you enjoy the most about volunteering?
GO: Just meeting different people and the gratitude we get.
JO: Helping people out; some people really appreciate it.
