Jordan Doherty
St Albans’ Luciana Di Mattia is celebrating a milestone of twenty five years of volunteer service to Brimbank council.
Luciana was introduced to volunteer work by her late father, Tom Diele, who volunteered in many roles throughout the years and won a citizen of the year award.
The now 68-year-old’s family migrated to Australia in 1969 and settled into Brimbank with a desire to share their Italian heritage and their creative talents with the community.
Luciana said she started out as a marshal at the Sunshine Festival making sure that kids didn’t run between the procession and keeping people safe
She is currently facilitating playgroups at Westvale Neighbourhood House and has helped out in many other areas, including the children’s activities at the Christmas carols at Overnewton Castle, at the former Children’s Week festival, the Disability Expo and with exchange students from overseas.
Her best memory of volunteering was being part of the tea dances to the tunes of old songs at Errington Community Centre with Brimbank senior residents.
“Seeing the joy on people’s faces gives me joy and I can’t speak more highly of the other volunteers,” she said.
Luciana says there are many benefits to volunteering including keeping your mind alert, being with other people, having a sense of belonging, stretching yourself to help others, giving yourself a purpose in life and sharing your culture.
She added,“ when you volunteer, you bring in your laughter, your smile, your culture. It’s a way of visiting the world without leaving Brimbank, you leave your footprint and that is so beautiful,” she said.
“You don’t get paid but your reward is to put a smile on other people’s faces.”
