Pat discovered WA Seniors Card almost by chance. “I came to change a card down at reception about two and a half years ago,” she recalls. “I liked the t-shirts and from there I became a volunteer. Best thing I have ever done.”

Looking for something meaningful to do post-retirement, she found herself quickly immersed in volunteering. “It keeps your mind active. You get involved with so many age groups in this work environment.”

Travel has always been close to Pat’s heart, a passion inspired by her husband, Errol. She met him in England while working as a nurse in geriatric wards. “I missed the bus to go to the country club, and my friend put a thumb out. Next thing, a car stops, and he was driving, and that was our first meeting,” she laughs.

Errol had dreamed of moving to Australia since he was a child. “We got married in England, had our only child Dean, and four months later, we came to Australia.” Over the years, they lived in Brisbane, Mt Isa, Port Hedland, and Perth, always chasing adventure and new experiences.

Some of Pat’s most memorable trips took her deep into Australia’s rugged landscapes. Port Hedland left an impression with its beautiful creeks and fresh seafood straight from the rocks. In Darwin, she remembers the magic of Daly River, camping along the water with friends, candles on the tables, and the reflective glow of the river at night. She also shares a light-hearted memory closer to home in York, where she and Errol cared for a family of 17 magpies. “The boss magpie would tap on the kitchen window and join us for coffee every day at 10:30 a.m.,” she chuckles.

Internationally, Pat loved Penang, Malaysia, where she enjoyed the mixed cultures and simple pleasures like breakfast at a café surrounded by free-range chickens.

“I believe that no one should stop seeing the world. Those memories stay with you forever. It’s a big world, and there is so much to learn from travelling, meeting people, and learning from people.”

Even now, Pat keeps her wanderlust alive. She hopes to explore the United Kingdom but is also content discovering more of Australia. “I still want to be out there; the only way you can learn is by meeting new people.”

Volunteering fits seamlessly into her life, providing connection and purpose. “It’s satisfying, but it won’t stop me from travelling.”

“Do it. Don’t sit back and say, ‘I wish I had done it.’ Do it while you are capable, otherwise you’ll be stuck with ‘I wish I had.’”