Maureen ‘Moz’ Fowler, dedicated Nagambie volunteer

By Contributed

Feb 13, 2023

Maureen ‘Moz’ Fowler says she enjoys meeting the families of the residents and patients and supporting them to help their loved one while volunteering at Nagambie HealthCare.

Soon-to-be great-grandmother Maureen ‘Moz’ Fowler, 74, from Nagambie proves you are never too old to volunteer.

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Moz has worked as a volunteer or member of the Nagambie golf and tennis clubs, St Malachy’s Catholic Church and St Joseph’s school, and the Nagambie Lakeside Larks Choir, as well as Nagambie Australia Day Committee, the Community Christmas Tea, other local sports groups and the Prayer Options Unified for Rain group, to name just a few.

Moz has endeared herself to the whole community with her friendliness, kindness and willingness to help others. She is a gem among volunteers in Nagambie.

But Moz is best known for her dedication, loving care and compassion for the elderly folk and staff at the Nagambie hospital nursing home, now called Nagambie HealthCare.

At NHC’s annual meeting on November 24, Moz was presented with a life governor award by board president John Palmer for her 20 years of volunteer service to NHC.

One of her passions is feeding the oldies a meal if they cannot do it for themselves. She has also has been at many bedside vigils for those folk approaching the end of their lives there and who can be comforted by her holding their hands.

Moz said she was pleased to receive the award for her years of volunteer work.

“COVID-19 had changed a lot of things at the facility,” she said.

“We used to take the old folk out on weekly trips or social activities and have hostel gatherings.

“That was stopped for the past few years ... but we hope to resume it again soon.”

Pre-COVID, Moz also assisted the residents on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day memorial services and local church ones, Christmas celebrations and special occasions for the residents and their families.

“I sometimes escort patients to hospital or clinics if required,” Moz said.

“I also enjoy meeting the transitional staff who come down from various services and we have become friends.”

Moz said her husband, Keith Fowler, was always supportive of her endeavours, whether playing sport, singing or helping others.

“He lets me do what I like to do ... we do our own thing,” she said.

“If I am at home late, he asks ‘are you sick? Why aren’t you at the hostel?’”

Moz has previously been recognised for her volunteer work.

She won the state Aged and Community Services Australia Volunteer of the Year award in 2013.

Let’s hope this granny can continue doing what she loves for plenty more years yet.