Antonia Dingey-Attard is certainly talking the talk when it comes to spending time with older people in the community – in five different languages!
It’s National Volunteer Week from 19-25 May, and this year’s theme is ‘Connecting Communities.’ Something that Antonia, who volunteers with Uniting AgeWell’s Social Connections program, offers.
The 65-year-old Point Cook resident has been volunteering with Uniting AgeWell for over a year now, both in the Chata-Ring program where she has regular one-on-one phone calls with older customers, as well as one-on-one social visits to their homes or to take them out shopping or for coffee.
Antonia finds the role very rewarding. “I love spending time with older people,” she says. “I have a rapport with them. I love learning about their lives and listening to their stories.”
It also gives her an opportunity to brush up on all her languages. “I’m an Egyptian of Greek heritage – just like Cleopatra,” Antonio laughs. “I was a toddler when I came to Australia with my parents, and I grew up with my four other siblings in a strict household speaking Greek, Italian, French, Arabic and of course, English.”
Antonia grew up in the western suburbs of Melbourne and says she had a strict upbringing. “My dad’s word was law,” she says. “As kids we were raised with strict curfews and rules!”
After completing school she worked in several roles ranging from a dental nurse, to customer service in the health insurance and emergency service sectors, all while raising her four children. She also worked in a retirement village and as a Home Care Worker, and it was there that she realised how much she enjoyed spending time with older people.
Antonia also enjoyed spending time with her late parents as they grew older. “It was awesome seeing the other side of dad. He became so mellow and chilled about everything, including how he interacted with my grandchildren. I’d say to him, ‘Hey dad, you weren’t like this with us,’ and he’d just laugh.”
Antonia and her partner are now both retired and love travelling – from NZ to Tasmania and Northern Queensland and everywhere else in between. She appreciates that the Chat-A-Ring service can be done from anywhere in the country!
“Uniting AgeWell are terrific to work with,’ says Antonia. “The staff are amazing, so kind and supportive. They are warm and welcoming, and always make me feel so special, like I am making a huge difference to the customers. It’s lovely to be appreciated like this.”
She looks forward to the phone calls and the visits with older people. “I sometimes think that I receive more than I give,” she explains.
Although Greek is her home-language and she “thinks and dreams mostly in Greek” she is delighted to be able to brush up on her other languages in talking to customers. “There’s a lady I chat with in Italian and this gives me a connection back to my childhood. It’s very special.
In between, Antonio is studying to be a marriage celebrant and loves reading, writing, walking with friends and doing creative artwork. “I love cooking too,” she says. “Food is important, it brings people together.”
Lisa Jane Robertson, Uniting AgeWell Team Leader Social Connections for the Northwest and Grampians, is encouraging everyone thinking of volunteering to give the friendly team a ring to explore options.
“What is wonderful about volunteers is that they want to be there,” Lisa explains. “They are driven by their desire to build connections and support people to get back to what they love in the community. It’s a great opportunity for them to see the multiple ways they can help older people.”
Learn more about volunteering at Uniting AgeWell