MOST people take a holiday to get away from their job but Noosa’s Philip Waugh continues to work while on vacation.
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For the past 22 years the former Warrnambool man has volunteered in the supply department at Warrnambool Base Hospital.
After a 39-year career with the State Bank, Mr Waugh retired in 1992.
“When I finished at the bank I went down to the council and they had a volunteer co-ordinator who sent me up here,” he said.
“I volunteer here two days a week on Mondays and Fridays.”
After Mr Waugh and his wife Margaret moved to Noosa in 1999 they continued to return to Warrnambool each year.
The couple spend around 10 weeks in the city from the beginning of February.
Mr Waugh said they usually head home when the weather starts to get cold.
The softly-spoken man said he endeavours to continue coming to Warrnambool and volunteering for as long as possible.
“The money’s no good,” he laughed. “But we are all good mates and we have a laugh and a chat.”
Mr Waugh also volunteers his time when he is back home.
“I volunteer in hospital operations at the Noosa hospital too,” he said.
Mrs Waugh is also a volunteer in Noosa, assisting with the Meals on Wheels program.
Deputy supplies manager Shane Grundy said Mr Waugh was a valued worker.
“He’s a great volunteer,” he said. “He’s very good to the organisation.”
Mr Grundy said the supply department has four volunteers and duties include delivering products to south-west medical clinics, disability services and Deakin University.
“The volunteers do a lot of deliveries, it may be down the street or across the region,” he said.