Helping others has been part of Pete Johnston’s life since he left home for a Christian boarding school at age five, he says.
“How I was brought up, that was always part of our mantra,” he told the Independent.
The East Geelong Vietnam Veteran has been with Volunteering Geelong for more than a dozen years.
When Pete retired as an accountant after he “got lucky” on the share market, he decided to give more time back to the community.
He found his niche through Volunteering Geelong mentoring youth leaving care or caught up in the justice system.
“One win makes up for the ten failures,” he said.
“And I’ve had a few wins. You feel fantastic helping someone get back onto the ladder.”
After the Vietnam War, he found dealing with “difficult people” easier than others might, he added.
Pete is urging locals to support Volunteering Geelong after the organisation signed on 75 new volunteers during April, double its normal monthly registrations.
The organisation this month launched its first Lend A Hand Appeal in a bid to raise $10,000 to cope with increased demand during COVID-19.
Fellow East Geelong volunteer Vaughan Lamb described the number of people “putting their hands up” to help during the pandemic as “amazing”.
“There’s a spike in not only demand for assistance but people willing to give that assistance,” he said.
“The isolation of COVID-19 has made a lot of people realise they could [help many others] during lockdown.”
The retired solicitor and grandfather joined Volunteering Geelong recently and has been helping deliver meals to those in need.
Volunteering Geelong provided services and acted as a referral agency to best “harness the skills” of aspiring volunteers, he explained.
“It’s an organisation full of wonderful people who are really dedicated to doing good in their community.”
To donate: www.givenow.com.au/lend-a-hand-appeal
