Good Sorts - Bridget Wilson

When it comes to volunteering and helping people out in the community, Waimate volunteer Bridget Wilson has the motto, “if there is no reason you can’t do something for others, then just do it.”

Bridget was born in 1974. She went to Waimate Main School and then Waimate High School. On leaving high school she worked at Bond & Co accountants in Waimate and then Diesel Services in Timaru and Timaru Motors. From there she went to work at New Zealand Employment Services until she had three children, that are now grown. When her youngest was two years old she started volunteering for St John and then got a job at Oak House Medical Clinic. Bridget then got fixed term contract for two years with Timaru St John and during that time she studied to become a Paramedic.

The opportunity then came up for her to become the Waimate St John Station Manager as a Paramedic, which is where she has stayed. Bridget started volunteering while still at school when she coached a netball team and became a Kea leader at Scouts, taking 5-8-year-olds. Then as a young adult she volunteered with a lot of the Sports Clubs she was involved in, as most of her Sports Clubs were run by volunteers and if people didn’t volunteer they never happened.

Bridget said her volunteering continued when she had children, as she set up a pre-school gym as part of the Gymnastics Club, led Music and Movement, and was on the Toy Library committee. She said she was also the Waimate Netball president for a while, and committee member, as well as her own kid’s Netball coach amongst other things.

“The volunteering list when you have kids is endless.” In 2005 when Bridget’s youngest child was two she felt she needed a little something else in her life, so became a St John volunteer. She said that even though she now works as a paid member on the road, she still volunteers on the St John Area committee and coordinates their volunteers. “I attend nearly all our fundraising events, which I love.”

Bridget is on the Waimate Centrecare Counselling committee, as well as a Waimate Community Vehicle driver. She said services like these are very important to the Waimate community and there is a huge need within the community for people of any age to volunteer in the services. “Having people in the services volunteering, helps to keep costs down for people within the community using those services.”

One of Bridget’s favourite fundraising activities is coordinating Toot for Tucker in Waimate, a role she picked up after it had not been done for some time. She said when they had to cease the actual tooting and driving part of Toot for Tucker, she was convinced she had to make it work. “It’s been way better than I thought possible, now we collect at the supermarket for a couple of days.”

Bridget is a Rotarian, which she thoroughly enjoys being part of and wishes she had more time to give them. She volunteers in the Waimate Community ANZAC group, as her grandfather was a returned service member, making being a member of the group special to her.

Amongst work and all her volunteering she also finds the time to sing and enjoys being part of the Waimate Community Choir and is part of the Harriers Club, mainly now for the afternoon tea though. Bridget said volunteering has always been something she has just done and it is part of her life.

She said she believes it is something everyone should have a go at doing. “I don’t see it as a chore, I just really enjoy it. If I can do something for somebody, I just do. It is something anyone can do.” If there is anything that Bridget is currently involved in and you would like to know more about volunteering, supporting or being part of it, feel free to contact her on 0274855603.

“I love the Waimate community, as it is just that, a community. It has so much to offer” she said.