Jennifer Pittorino
Williamstown local Carol Willis has dedicated her life to volunteer work.
She has taken on a range of roles throughout a lifetime, something she looks back proudly on as she received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service to the community.
Carol’s list of volunteer efforts are extensive and versatile and volunteering with Williamstown Lacrosse Club, Newport Food Pantry and being a founding member of the Australian War Memorial development advisory board.
But it’s the work she did at her children’s schools that she enjoyed most.
“I am really proud of my community work over the many years, but mostly volunteering to work in different fields within schools,” she said.
“I had three children and worked in schools for many years, doing all sorts of roles, working in libraries and other things.”
Throughout 23 years, the proud mum volunteered on parents and friends committees, she was a teacher’s and reading aid, a library assistant and canteen worker at a number of different schools.
In addition to working with children, Carol said has found enormous satisfaction from her other passion in working in emergency relief.
Carol has volunteered with Anglicare Emergency Relief in Williamstown since 2003, and been volunteer coordinator since 2015.
“People come in emergency situations and we help these people who are very troubled and people who desperately need help,” she said.
“I am privileged to have done this and for people to have trusted me as that’s been important that people can feel comfortable with me.”
Carol’s longest running stint lies as Sunshine International Women’s Year Committee which has been a part of since the 1970s. She was president between 1974-1994 and was chair of the International Women’s Year Committee in 1975.
“For many years, we ran seminars on the needs of women in the west, and that was really important to me,” she said.
“I wanted women to have a reprieve, and provide women with opportunities to progress.”
Despite her long list of accomplishments, Carol puts the Australia Day recognition down to teamwork and everyone she has worked with.
“It is a group effort and I am feeling very grateful.”
