When Colleen enlisted as an Army nurse on 1 November 1976, she could not have known her service would become a defining thread running through her life.
Raised in a small Queensland town, one of five daughters, four of whom became nurses. Colleen had already begun her career in local hospitals before joining the Army. Over nine years of service, from 1976 to 1985, she found not only purpose but lifelong friendships.
“Serving one’s country is very humbling,” she says. “For a girl from a small Queensland town, it was a wonderful way to see Australia. But it’s the friendships you make, they last a lifetime.”
Now, nearly five decades on from that intake and a 50-year reunion on the horizon, those bonds remain strong.
Today, that same spirit of service continues in a quieter, but no less meaningful way. Colleen now volunteers at a charity opportunity shop in Hervey Bay, where she helps sort donations that support local causes.
“It’s about service,” she says. “In the Army we served our country. Volunteering is a continuation of that, but on a local level – it’s about serving the local community.”
Colleen first stepped into volunteering during a difficult period in her life. After the loss of her partner, a Navy veteran she met through a veteran centre in Warwick, she found herself with time and a sense of emptiness.
“Losing my partner left me with too much time on my hands,” she says.
Living opposite the local op shop, Treasure Trove, she walked across the road one day and asked to volunteer. The response was immediate.
“When I mentioned my military background, they were impressed. I was accepted immediately.”
That first step was simple, but the impact has been lasting.
Inside the shop, there’s a sense of warmth and energy. Music – usually 60s and 70s rock and roll – plays in the background as volunteers work through bags and boxes of donations. “It really is a treasure trove,” Colleen says. “You never know what you’ll find.”
When COVID-19 forced the shop to close in early 2020, Colleen, like many Australians, struggled with the sudden isolation. “It hit me for six,” she says. “I spent a lot of time in my garden and doing jigsaw puzzles.”
When the doors reopened later that year, returning to volunteering brought something important back.
“Sanity returned,” she says. “Helping my local community is so rewarding.”
For Colleen, volunteering is not just about giving back – it’s about staying connected and maintaining wellbeing.
“Keeping an active social life is essential for physical and mental health,” she says. “Instead of sitting around, volunteering keeps your body and mind active.”
She sees clear parallels between her time in uniform and her life now. “The camaraderie of volunteers is similar to Army service,” she says. “From serving your country to serving your community, it’s very rewarding.”
During National Volunteer Week, Colleen’s story reflects the broader contribution veterans continue to make across Australia. Volunteering offers a powerful way to stay connected, support communities and build a renewed sense of purpose.
Her advice to others, especially veterans who may be feeling isolated, is simple.
“Give it a go,” she says. “Whether it’s an op shop, an animal shelter, or teaching kids to read, there are so many options. It rewards the charity, but it benefits the volunteer even more.”
For Colleen, that next chapter of service has become indispensable.
“I now can’t imagine not volunteering,” she says.
For more information about volunteering and how it is considered if you are receiving a DVA payment, you can find further details at dva.gov.au