Volunteers’ generations of care: Betty and Muriel honoured for lifetimes of Sundale service

Betty Jenkins, left, and Muriel Peters were honoured with Sundale Lifetime Volunteer Awards at a volunteers morning tea at Nambour RSL on Thursday, July 2.

Two women whose quiet service helped shape generations of care at Sundale have been recognised for their remarkable contribution to the Nambour community.

Betty Jenkins and Muriel Peters were honoured with Sundale Lifetime Volunteer Awards at a volunteers morning tea at Nambour RSL on Thursday, July 2.

“Both women have given decades of service to Sundale, supporting residents through practical help, companionship, faith, music, friendship and the sort of steady presence that often leaves the deepest mark,” Sundale’s  Community Engagement Manager Rochelle Coombs told the morning tea. 

Betty, now 97, has volunteered with Sundale for an extraordinary 40 years.

Her involvement began with a simple request from her church, which was looking for volunteers to support Sundale residents. Betty answered the call and, for four decades, continued to give her time with humility, compassion and dedication.

Over the years, Betty filled countless volunteer roles. She swept courtyards until only a few years ago, watered pot plants, mended residents’ clothing, offered companionship to people who needed someone to spend time with, and served faithfully on the Friends of Sundale Committee.

No task was too small if it helped make life brighter for residents.

Betty now calls James Grimes Care Centre home, but her service has not stopped.

Every Thursday afternoon at 1.30pm, she facilitates the Scrabble group, an activity she looks forward to each week, along with the residents who join her.

Although her eyesight is not what it once was, Betty uses a magnifying glass and continues to take part. It is a small example of the determination that has defined her contribution.

She also continues to support Friday church services and regularly takes part in activities around the home, including bingo, Hoy, concerts and community events.

Sundale CEO Can Taylor said Betty’s legacy was not simply measured by the jobs she had completed or the number of years she had volunteered, although 40 years was an extraordinary achievement.

“Her legacy lives in the friendships she has built, the comfort she has offered, the laughter shared over Scrabble, and the many small acts of kindness repeated year after year,” he said.

Muriel Peters was also recognised for a lifetime of service deeply connected to Sundale’s earliest history.

Born and raised in Nambour, Muriel grew up surrounded by the dream that would become Sundale.

Her uncle, Jim Grimes, was one of Sundale’s original founders, and lived behind her family home. Another founding figure, Tom Carter, lived next door.

As a young girl, Muriel heard the conversations about creating a place where older people could be cared for with dignity, compassion and respect.

“When the call went out in the 1950s to help bring Sundale to life, Muriel answered,” said Ms Coombs. “While raising four children, she helped with fundraising efforts, working on street stalls, baking for fetes and assisting wherever she could.”

“She understood that every cake baked, every hour volunteered and every dollar raised was helping build something that would benefit future generations.”

When Nicklin Lodge opened, Muriel shared in the pride of seeing that community vision become reality. One of her own school teachers, Miss Eva Mewett, was among the first residents, making the milestone especially meaningful.

Muriel’s contribution continued long after the buildings were complete.

Once the James Grimes Chapel was built, she established monthly hymn singing evenings, bringing together junior and senior choirs from the Methodist Church to provide residents with music, comfort and connection.

From 1997, she also led Reflections, a Wednesday afternoon Bible study group that offered fellowship, encouragement and friendship.

Muriel volunteered in many other ways as well. “She helped in the Sundale canteen, supported Christian services, called bingo, visited residents and offered her time wherever it was needed,” said Ms Coombs.

Her service also extended to Rotary Gardens Retirement Village, where she now lives. Muriel served on the Rotary Gardens Retirement Village Committee, including four years as president, and helped drive the creation of a clubhouse where residents could gather and build friendships.

Mr Taylor said Muriel’s life had become woven into its history, not only because she helped support the organisation in its earliest days, but because she helped build the caring community it became.

Muriel only retired from active volunteering at Christmas 2025.

Mr Taylor said both women had shown that service was not always about grand gestures, but about faithful acts  repeated day after day and year after year.