Bob has been volunteering with us for more than 15 years.
Every Thursday, Bob catches the bus in from Little Bay to The Benevolent Society’s headquarters in Sydney. For 16 years now he has been a volunteer at the office, helping out wherever he’s needed.
What’s unusual about that, you ask. Well, on 19 March this year, Bob turned 90.
Bob Fergusson was born in Moree, in the west of New South Wales. Moree sits atop an artesian bore and is known for its hot climate and the mineral springs that bring in thousands of visitors every year. Bob’s father was a plumber, and his mother looked after him and three brothers and two sisters.
As a schoolboy at Moree Public School, Bob worked a couple of hours a day for Mr Dash, the chemist, delivering medications and equipment to Moree Public Hospital and the town’s two private hospitals. ‘Mr Dash would have liked to take me on full time,’ Bob said, ‘but I didn’t have the qualifications.’
And he couldn’t afford to get them. Instead, at 16, Bob took a job behind the counter at Mansour’ drapery shop. He was there for nine years, but eventually the lure of the big city proved too much.
‘I left Moree 67 years ago,’ Bob said. ‘My first job in Sydney was at Mark Foy’s, selling neckties and scarves in that lovely building in Liverpool Street. I was there for five years.
’Bob fondly recalls the Empress Ballroom on the top floor of the Mark Foy’s building, where he was able to watch Sydney’s high society at play. ‘They held balls and parties there. I used to work there sometimes in the cloakroom or as a drinks waiter. ’Sydney in the 1950s was quiet compared to nowadays. The pubs closed at 6 pm and there wasn’t much to do. (Those were the days of the ‘six o’clock swill’, when men ducked into the hotels after work and had to drink fast before closing time.)
Bob and his mates used to go to the Domain to listen to the speakers, and went ice skating at the Glaciarium at Railway Square. ‘And we went dancing at Seagar’s Dance Studio and at Arthur Murray’s in George Street.’ A job at Nock and Kirby’s in George Street followed, after which Bob moved to Waverly, to Traversi and Jones’s hardware store. ‘I was there for 24 years, until Bunnings bought them out,’ Bob recalled.
Bob, who has never married, retired at 67. A friend told him about The Benevolent Society’s retirement villages, and he found a place at Rotary Court in Alexandria. He later moved to Mirrabooka Village at Little Bay.
What prompted Bob to become a volunteer? ‘The Benevolent Society was running a program called Sunny’s Day in 2002. I heard about it and came and helped with different things for three years.’ Since then Bob has volunteered for one day at week, doing ‘whatever is available for me to do.’ Bob believes he’s lucky to be a volunteer.
‘It has given me a lot of pleasure, and it gives me a better outlook on life. And I love meeting all the different people.’
When The Benevolent Society asked Bob what he would like as a token of gratitude after his first 15 years of service, ‘I told them I would like to climb the Harbour Bridge’. And his wish was granted.
Other perks include attending a morning tea and a soiree presided over by Dame Mary Bashir at Government House.
Bob is a familiar sight in the corridors of The Benevolent Society. He knows everybody and they all know him. He’s part of the place. ‘I’m noted for my dampers,’ he said. ‘On St Patrick’s Day, I bring in green dampers for the staff.’
For his birthday in March, Bob held a party for 45 to 50 people at Mirrabooka Village; unfortunately, he could only fit in 10 lucky colleagues from The Benevolent Society, but everyone had a wonderful time.
Thanks for all your help Bob.
