General News
27 August, 2025
Marilyn Clancy: still serving community
A lifetime of care continues for Hopetoun’s 73-year-old Marilyn Clancy, who has retired from her 28-year career with Rural Northwest Health, but she still hasn’t slowed down.
Since her retirement in June this year, she’s found new ways to keep contributing to her community through volunteering.
Ms Clancy, who began as a personal care assistant in 1997, worked across both the Hopetoun and Warracknabeal facilities.
Throughout the years, she also served as an activities worker and coordinator, ran programs, and even stepped in to help lead the hostel at one point.
Reflecting on her career, she said what mattered most was “working with the residents — I just loved being able to sit down and do things with them.”
Even in retirement, her days remain full, as she now volunteers at St Joseph’s Primary School two days a week, as a reading helper.
“The children read their stories to me, and I just keep an eye on what they’re reading,” she said.
“Sometimes they don’t understand what a word means, so I explain it, and that’s really rewarding.”
Recently, she was touched when one student, whose grandparents live overseas, asked her to step in on Grandparents’ Day.
“I was asked if I’d be her grandparent for the day, and her family sent me a lovely card and gift to thank me,” she said.
Her community caring doesn’t just stop at the school gates.
She also helps at the local op shop with unpacking and putting things on display, plays music at the church, and even organises coffee catch-ups for seniors.
“I just unpack all the items and put them on display for the customers of the op-shop,” she said.
“Every second week, we take a group out for a coffee.
“We talk rubbish, tell silly jokes — and it refreshes everyone.
“They really enjoy it.”
Ms Clancy also joins in local events and activities.
“I was asked to help at the golf tournament, so I spent two days down there making sandwiches,” she said.
“I don’t know how I had time to work before, as I’m busier now than ever.”
Looking back, she admits the most challenging part of her working years was not the care itself, but the paperwork.
“I was hopeless at computers and I hated them,” she said.
“I preferred doing everything longhand.
“But being with the residents, that was always the best part.”
Ms Clancy’s husband is now in care at Warracknabeal and she’s living by herself in Hopetoun, but she continues to find joy in keeping busy and staying connected with the town and the community.
“I’ve always been involved with the church and the community — you can’t stop me,” she said.
“I’ll keep volunteering as long as I can.”
Her message for the Hopetoun and the broader community is straightforward.
“If you like elderly people or lifestyle work, volunteering is such a pleasure,” she said.
“You can talk to them, play games with them — it’s lovely.
“I just love people.”