She said the decision to retire from volunteering came due to health issues.

“I was coming to Gwydir HAAC twice a week before I had to have a little break and now I’ve decided it’s time for me to take a permanent holiday,” she said.

Between 1999 and 2000 Ms Lines finished working at Fairview in Moree.

“I became bored with nothing to do and I decided that I had to get out of the house and do something. I did a bit of research on the respite house, rang them up and completed an interview,” she said.

After the interviewing process at their prior address in Morton Street, she was accepted as a volunteer of the Gwydir HACC Services.

“I’ve helped clients with a lot of things;I’ve done lunch club, Meals on Wheels and a bit of everything here and there,” she said.

Forming strong bonds with the clients and staff, Ms Lines said she would miss everyone and might “get a bit teary” during her official last day today.

“I may have helped them but the old ones have helped me a lot. I’ve enjoyed finding out what has happened in their lives and sharing stories with them. They’ve taught me a lot of things,” she said.

Ms Lines encouraged members of the community, especially youth, to participate in Gwydir HAAC’s volunteering services.

“Get out there and do it young ones. It could help you in your future line of work, or it could just be a great experience for you… but you will learn something if you do decide to become a volunteer,” she said.

Gwydir HAAC’s Trudy Schoupp, thanked Ms Lines for her many years of volunteering for HAAC, aged care and Meals on Wheels.

“It would not be possible for Gwydir HAAC Services to provide our quality range of services to the aged and younger adults with disabilities in the community without the dedication of our volunteers,” she said.

Ms Schoupp said Gwydir HAAC Services were always looking for more volunteers.

“This could be as little as a few hours weekly or monthly,” she said.

For more information contact Trudy on 6752 1153.