Meet our volunteers

I know how isolating it can be following a diagnosis of breast cancer. Despite being surrounded by family and friends, it is different to be talking to someone who “has been there before”. This was my main motivation for joining Counterpart as a volunteer. If I can make a difference to even just one woman as she deals with her breast cancer experience, then I have served my purpose. I have been a volunteer for 3 years now and still get excited each time I am rostered on duty.

I treasure the opportunity to talk on the phone or face to face with other women as they avail of the services that Counterpart provides. My biggest surprise was being the recipient of the 2008 Australia Day Awards given by the Child Support Agency, where I was working at the time. It was in recognition of my significant contribution to the Australian community through my volunteer work at Counterpart. I didn’t think they noticed what I did on days off.  After that, I had colleagues approach me either on behalf of themselves, a family member or a friend, seeking information regarding breast and gynaecological cancers. It provided many opportunities to be an unofficial ambassador for Counterpart.

One of the things about talking to women who are going through cancer treatment, from the first shock of diagnosis onwards, is you never really know what is going to come up in the conversation. So, just asking ‘How are you is a great start’. My experience will be different from yours, but at least I know some of what you are going through. Watch Bridget’s video.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 27 years old. I just got married, went off on my honeymoon, came back, and that’s when I found a lump on my left breast. And so, yeah, so that’s when I got diagnosed with breast cancer. Watch Khim’s video.

My mum also had ovarian cancer and she died from it. And I wish that she was able to come to a service like this when she was going through treatment. Because she would have loved the camaraderie, chatting with the other ladies, doing craft, coming to learn about her own experience and to learn about what’s out there, and the therapies. And it would have been so empowering for her. And, as her family, it would have given us so much joy to know that she’s treated in such a kind, caring and respectful environment. So that’s why I started to do volunteering as well. Watch May’s video.

My first contact with Counterpart was shortly after my own diagnosis, when I came in off the street one day and found myself literally embraced by a group of warm, sympathetic women. They allowed me the space to speak freely about my chaotic emotions and helped me gather information about how to talk with my then adolescent son, one of the more tangible problems that I faced at the time.

For me, becoming a Counterpart volunteer was a means of acknowledging that breast cancer will always be a part of my life and of making that fact a positive one. I hope I have been able to give back to others some of that sense of empathy, access to information and of being a part of a real community of women.

Read Pam’s thoughts on living well after an advanced/metastatic diagnosis.