Queensland Government
Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services

Location: Redland Bay

The Wynnum-Manly community have much to thank tireless volunteer Patricia Riches for over the past 25 years.

Since 1983 she has devoted much of her time to improving services for local families and seniors through her volunteer work.

In 1983 Patricia and others saw a need for a new hospital in Wynnum and lobbied politicians to get one. She joined the then new Wynnum Hospital Auxiliary and eventually became their treasurer and president. In her work with this committee she led many fundraising projects to provide the new hospital with equipment. She would also visit patients who had no relatives and do their washing and shopping.

In 1983 she also joined the Wynnum Meals on Wheels delivering meals once a week and acting as treasurer of the organisation until 1996 when she reluctantly resigned from this position and her hospital auxiliary work due to ill health.

1983 was a big year for Patricia as she also joined the Wynnum and Manly Districts Seniors Citizens' Committee. She has been the committee's president now for 18 years and this year she also took on the position of secretary. Her roles with this organisation have been many and varied including running weekly Bingo games where Patricia would sell the tickets, call the numbers, serve in the kiosk, count the money and do the banking.

She has also been responsible for organising concert parties every Tuesday, regular bus trips and the Christmas party for the area's senior citizens.

As Meals on Wheel and the Wynnum and Manly Districts Seniors Citizens' Committee operated from the Waterloo Bay Leisure Centre. It is not surprising that Patricia also became treasurer and office assistant of this organisation in 1996. To assist with fundraising, Patricia would help prepare and serve meals at weddings and eisteddfods held at the centre.

On doctor's orders she again reluctantly had to resign from her volunteer positions at the leisure centre two years ago after 12 years of service.

Although ill-health has meant Patricia has had to curtail many of her volunteer efforts, families and seniors in the Wynnum-Manly area will benefit from her substantial contribution for many years to come.