AUSTRALIA’S Governor-General Quentin Bryce met Hobsons Bay volunteers and children during a whirlwind tour last Monday.
During National Volunteers Week, Ms Bryce visited 13 Melbourne organisations, including three in Hobsons Bay.
As Australian Red Cross patron, Ms Bryce visited the organisation’s national distribution warehouse in Altona, telling one volunteer: “I should give you a pat on the back.
“I used to be a Red Cross girl at school with a red cape and we had a badge and we even had a little veil with a red cross on it,” she recalled.
Praising the volunteers she met, Ms Bryce told them they should be proud.
She noted that Australia had six-million volunteers, most of whom were women aged between 35 and 44.
Ms Bryce met Yooralla clients and families at the UCAN Cafe, in the foyer of the Altona North library.
She met cafe worker Aaron D’Altera, 25, who was an apprentice plumber until a stroke in 2006 left him with 10per cent vision and restricted use of his hands.
Ms Bryce gave six-year-old Newport girl, Freya Lewington, a big hug, which brought a huge smile to the young girl’s face.
Freya, who has a rare condition known as Williams Syndrome, went through Yooralla’s early intervention program at Altona North Kindergarten.
Her mum Michelle said it was an honour to meet Ms Bryce.
“We are thrilled that Freya had the opportunity to meet Australia’s head of state and over the moon that Quentin Bryce took the time to talk to and cuddle our little princess.”
Ms Bryce also visited Altona’s Community Chef operation, which provides meals on wheels to 21 municipalities and shires.
