By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
EVEN though Centrelink was the catalyst for Ron Dryden’s decision to start volunteering with the Salvation Army it is his love for the job that keeps him coming back five years on.
Berwick resident Mr Dryden has been checking over, testing and tagging electrical goods at the Salvos Store in Cranbourne (Homemaker Centre) for more than five years and said after retiring last year “he likes having something to do”.
“I come in two days a week and sometimes come in an extra day if I’m needed – I do a bit of everything,” he said.
At age 65 Mr Dryden said he wasn’t a “TV person” and enjoyed coming in to volunteer, have a chat with customers and staff along with his position in the electrics corner.
Mr Dryden takes care of anything that ticks, switches or rings in his role as electrical tester and even changes and checks watch batteries.
“I’ve made some life-long friends here with other volunteers and seen first-hand how the Salvos Stores can help change people’s lives for the better – furniture and bedding are popular sellers,” he said.
Celebrating his five-year anniversary at the store along with ‘National Op Shop Week’ running from Sunday 23 to Sunday 30 August, Mr Dryden doesn’t see his volunteering ending any time soon.
