As we mark National Volunteer Week, we’re proud to spotlight the remarkable contributions of our hospital volunteers – everyday people doing extraordinary things. One of them is Maureen Coomer, who has been a valued part of the Hutt Hospital volunteer team for the past two years.
Maureen brings warmth, compassion and a wonderfully calm presence to her many volunteer roles. She welcomes patients and visitors as a hospital guide, brings comfort as a ward visitor in the Coronary Care Unit and helps relieve the boredom of long hospital stays by delivering books and magazines. Her gentle, listening ear has made her a reassuring presence for many.
But Maureen’s generosity doesn’t stop there. As an active member of Crafting Threads of Aroha, she lovingly knits twiddlemuffs (colourful, textured sensory muffs designed to keep the restless hands of people with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia occupied, calm and warm), as well as soft toys to help soothe and reassure. She also sews baby blankets for newborns in the Special Care Baby and Maternity Units, and creates discreet fabric bags for patients wearing 24-hour cardiac monitoring devices.
Volunteering runs deep for Maureen, who brings a rich and varied background to her role. A mother of seven and grandmother of eight, her professional life has spanned architectural draughting, library science and even earth science research at GNS. There, she spent 20 years helping New Zealanders understand natural hazards like earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis – work that blended her love of science with her passion for public education.
Since retiring, Maureen hasn’t slowed down. She’s stayed active in her community, continues to support schools with science resources and brings her love of people to her volunteer work at Hutt Hospital.
Maureen was inspired to join the hospital volunteer team after her mother had a fall and was cared for in ED. What started as a way to give back has become a deeply fulfilling part of her life. “It’s so nice for patients and visitors to see a smiling face. A simple chat can make a real difference, especially when people just need to be heard,” she says.
When asked what advice she’d give to anyone thinking about volunteering, Maureen’s answer is both practical and profound; “It’s a really good thing to do – and you get great biscuits! But seriously, volunteers need to listen more, assume less and be present. People don’t always find it easy to explain what they need, especially if English isn’t their first language or they’re feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes just being there is enough.”
One moment that stands out for Maureen was spending time with a patient experiencing mental distress. “I just listened. After about an hour, he had calmed down and talked about what was really worrying him. That conversation made a difference.”
Maureen’s kindness, empathy and gentle humour embody the heart of what hospital volunteering is all about. We’re incredibly grateful to have her on the team.
If you’d like to Volunteer with us we’d love to hear from you.