It is the people that Rob Spencer works with and people he works for that keeps him in volunteering.
But on May 15, Rob, 77, of Victoria Point received an unexpected reward for 20 years of volunteering with STAR Transport when he received the Queensland Lifetime Contribution to Volunteering award at the Brisbane City Hall from The Governor of Queensland, Her Excellency Dr Jeannette Young.
“It was unexpected and overwhelming. I was in exulted company and I thought the award would be given to someone with a higher State profile. I feel humbled to receive it,” he said.
Mr Spencer said he started volunteering with RDCOTA 22 years ago after being at a “loose end” after retirement.
For 20 of those years, his volunteering efforts have been with STAR Community Transport, something he said he had witnessed being turned from a charity to the full service provider it is today.
“It has been a marvellous journey and quite different to what I used to do (agricultural science)” Mr Spencer said.
“The people I volunteer with are special people. You do what you do because you want to do it, not have to do it.”
Mr Spencer said volunteering had become a fulltime passion for him, taking up about 40 to 50 hours a week.
At the awards he was described as a much-respected community figure and a humble humanitarian.
Mr Spencer focusses on helping improve the lives of the aged, frail and people with disabilities. In his time he has worked as a volunteer driver, a board member and as chairperson for 15 years.
STAR Community Services chief executive Patsy Wilshire said Mr Spencer exemplified every quality that a deserving recipient of such an honourable award would possess.
“STAR is grateful to have his support over the years,” she said.
Mr Spencer was also the facilitator and coordinator of the Redlands Disability Network (RDN), from 2015 until 2022.
In 2013, with the backing of STAR’s board, he helped set up a dedicated Volunteer Resource Centre known as Volunteering Redlands. This now has more than 1200 registered volunteers and 75 NFP groups.
Mr Spencer is also the 2023 Redlands Coast Australia Day Local Hero award recipient.
