There’s a volunteer army on the march through Aveo’s Cherry Tree Grove Retirement Living in Melbourne who arrive armed with hammers, screwdrivers and drills to lend a helping hand to their neighbours.
The Blue Army, formed 12 years ago by a handful of community-minded residents, assists with small DIY tasks outside the scope of the village’s maintenance team. Now with 23 recruits, the army of men and women, meets twice a week to deliver neighbourly kindness across their village of 450 residents.
Brian Cooper, The Blue Army’s co-ordinator and a resident of the Croydon retirement community, says the volunteers formed after the realisation that some of their neighbours needed a little help with odd jobs.
“The office at Cherry Tree Grove receives maintenance requests from the residents and tasks are allocated to Aveo’s on-site maintenance staff or The Blue Army,’’ he said.
“Volunteers meet at our shed and tasks are matched to the skill set of volunteers who travel in pairs to residents’ homes. We usually have 12 to 14 Blue Army volunteers, depending on their commitments and availability, on any day.
“Our tasks can range from changing lightbulbs, replacing smoke alarm batteries, hanging pictures, repairing chains on roller blinds or installing a shelf. We also provide electronic help to retune TVs or solve issues with computers and printers.
“After we complete our tasks, the members head back to the shed to debrief, have a coffee and share some Tim Tams.’’
The dedicated volunteers, who wear a uniform of a blue polo shirt and matching cap, are required to complete an induction program, undertake workplace safety training, be proficient in the use of specialist power tools and hold a doctor’s certificate to operate tools. Their roles are not taken lightly.
Residents pay for any parts required to complete their tasks and, if they wish, can make a small donation with the funds used to restock The Blue Army’s supplies, uniforms or new tools. At the end of the year, some of the funds are donated to charity.
“The Blue Army has already completed 235 tasks this year and we estimate our services save residents around $70,000 annually in tradie callout fees,’’ Mr Cooper said.
“The majority of our members are amateurs with an interest in DIY, but others are retired electronic engineers, drainage experts, builders, cabinetmakers and accountants.
“It’s wonderful to be part of the team. We enjoy the camaraderie, share a few laughs and gain satisfaction knowing we are looking out for our fellow residents. It’s a joy to receive such positive feedback from residents and their family members.’’
Aveo’s State Operations Manager Valetta Johnston said The Blue Army was a wonderful example of how the wide ranging life experiences of residents continue to be treasured in Aveo’s communities.
“The Blue Army not only delivers such a valuable service to fellow residents but rewards the volunteers with a sense of purpose, value and belonging,’’ Mrs Johnston said.
“The camaraderie they share is evident in the banter and laughter in the group cuppa afterwards. This connection is as important as any of the DIY projects they complete.
“The systems and parameters The Blue Army have adopted enable volunteers to work efficiently and safely within their limitations. I would love to see this initiative adopted across other Aveo communities.’’
The Blue Army recently expanded their offering to include a loan service. Any residents recovering from surgery or illness can borrow a range of equipment such as walking frames, shower seats, crutches and even an electric scooter, for a small donation.
Aveo’s Cherry Tree Grove is located at 67 Maroondah Highway, Croydon. For information, call Aveo on 13 28 36 or visit aveo.com.au.
About Aveo
As Australia’s leading and most innovative retirement living provider Aveo owns and manages a diverse portfolio of communities. For over 40 years, Aveo has been dedicated to helping retired Australians be their best selves across every stage of their later life journey. Aveo is committed to delivering the best retirement living options, continually listening and learning about what our customers want so that we can provide and foster communities where you can truly live well.
