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A few jars of jam and pickle every week add up after a while.
Since taking over the role of chief jam maker for the Warkworth Hospice Shop in 2005, it’s estimated that Mavis Russell, of Tomarata, has probably produced nearly 11,000 jars of delicious preserves.
Last week, Mavis and Sybil Patrick were both recognised for 30 years of voluntary service to hospice in Warkworth.
Mavis started when garage sales were still held at a residence in Hauiti Drive. She then did a six-week training course, which qualified her to visit patients at home. She did this for many years, alongside helping at the weekly garage sales, which by then had moved to the hospice headquarters in Woodcocks Road.
Then, in 2005, when Fran Hawkin moved to Australia, Mavis took on the job of turning donated seasonal fruit and vegetables into delicious jams, pickles and chutneys, which are then returned to the shop for sale.
“They never know quite what I am going to turn up with,” she says with a chuckle.
Some of the jams are fairly predictable – plum and apricot, and marmalade is always a good seller. But if shoppers are lucky, they might be able to grab a jar of lime and brandy, pumpkin and apricot, or rhubarb and plum jam.
Mavis says her most popular pickles are mustard (a combination of vegetables), cucumber pickle, and bread and butter pickle.
“What I make all depends on what’s donated.”
Mavis joined hospice after being made redundant from the home aid section of the then North Shore Hospital Board. She says her years as a hospice volunteer have been very rewarding.
“The work comes with a lot of satisfaction and camaraderie – you get to make some lovely friends.”
Mavis also got to see hospice’s work first hand when her husband Rodney passed away in 2018.
Sybil Patrick says she can’t believe it has really been 30 years since she and her late husband John started as family support volunteers.
“We’d just moved here from Hamilton and were keen to meet people,” she says.
John eventually wound down his involvement, but Sybil is still actively doing a shift at the Warkworth Hospice Shop every Friday afternoon and family support when required. She has also been involved in hospice’s day group and open doors programmes.
She will turn 90 early next year, but shows no sign of slowing down.
“While I’m able, I will keep volunteering. I’ve always felt it was important to be involved in your community and there’s a real need for volunteers.”
Like Mavis, Sybil says that her reward has been the people she has met, many of whom have become friends.
“It’s the people you work with, but also the patients and their families.”
