26 January 2024
Long-time volunteer Mary Hall was celebrated at the Sandringham Plunket Clinic for an incredible 52 years of service to Whānau Āwhina Plunket.
Community Services Manager Clare Green thanked Mary for her loyalty and dedication to Plunket.
“Mary has helped many whānau to keep their children and babies safe and well over the years. She’s an inspiration to us all and we are very lucky to have her,” she says.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket volunteer Mary Hall (centre) with Community Services Manager Clare Green (left) and Community Services Team Leader Francois Kayembe.
A much-loved face in the popular Sandringham Plunket Clinic, Mary ensures the smooth running of many services. She’s kept busy managing birthday party bookings for the clinic’s venue hire service, installing car seats for whānau, conducting safety checks on nursery furniture and providing event support.
Beginning her volunteering journey with Plunket back in 1971, Mary has held various roles from local committee to area positions. She was well-known as the Branch Safety Officer in the 1980s and then Area Safety Officer in the early 2000s, where she specialised in child safety and represented Plunket at many advisory groups and networks.
Mary has received awards for her long service, including an honorary life membership with Plunket. In 2004, she was named Aucklander of the Year and in 2014, was recognised during the Minister of Health Volunteer Awards for her commitment to the health field.
There are no plans to slow down any time soon for Mary.
“Volunteering with Plunket is a big part of my life. It’s just what I do. I enjoy being a part of the local community and helping the staff do their jobs,” she says.