Meet Blair Williams the Mr Congeniality of the Andrew Kerr Care AgeWell Centre.

He’s the cheery smile behind 15 years of volunteering at the site long before it merged with Uniting Agewell.

These days the 76-year-old retired lawyer volunteers four days a week at the Mornington site, doing everything from activities with the groups, to working in the kitchen and helping with lunches and morning tea.

“I help out wherever I’m needed,” he says donning his red apron as he heads off into the kitchen to load the dishwasher. It’s a task much needed after a delicious lunch of Mongolian beef with veggies, dessert and a cuppa served with chocolates.

“I find it very rewarding to chat to and help older people, I thoroughly enjoy myself. Hopefully I make every day a happy one for our customers,” Blair says. “It’s nice to know that I’m making a difference.”

He is. In spades.

“He’s an absolute treasure,” says the Centre Coordinator Alison Lay. “I don’t know what we would do without him. Everyone likes Blair.”

Blair says volunteering also keeps him fit – both in body and in mind. He lives about five km away and always walks to the centre and back home again, regardless of the weather.

A win-win situation for Blair who loves having such an important purpose in his life now that he is retired. “It’s wonderful to be able to help others, but I often feel that I gain more than I give. It’s so easy to lose direction in retirement and feel that you have no purpose. This is a great way to keep busy, happy and fulfilled.”