By Benjamin Millar
Helping other people is in Marilyn King’s blood.
Growing up “incredibly poor” in the central Queensland town of Biloela, her parents were nevertheless known throughout the area for their generosity to anyone in need of a bite to eat or a place to stay.
“As a kid I would wake up and find strangers who had obviously slept there the night sitting and having a cup of tea,” she said.
“My parents always said no matter how little you have, you always have enough to share.”
The West Footscray resident’s own selfless service to aged welfare has been recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
Ms King founded the support group Willing Older Workers (WOW!), which provides financial, emotional and practical support for unemployed people aged over 50 who are struggling to get back into the workforce.
She has also been an advisory member on a number of community, disability and ageing groups.
Ms King was previously a state finalist in the Australian of the Year award and was Maribyrnong council’s 2013 Citizen of the Year, picking up the Rotary Club of Footscray’s Community Service Award the same year.
Her own involvement in volunteer work began in a remote Aboriginal community in northwest Western Australia.
“We don’t do these things for recognition, there are heaps of other people doing things as well,” she said.
“There is no better way to take your mind off your own troubles than to help someone else.”
Far from slowing down herself, Ms King is busy preparing for the next chapter in her colourful life – moving to Bulgaria to fix up a home that dates back more than 400 years.
“It’s just got so much history, it’s the first place that was built in the valley,” she said.
“We want to set it up as a museum; they don’t know this yet but when it’s done we will gift it back to the village.”
