Volunteering has reunited a student with her grade two teacher at Milpara Residential Care Home in Rostrevor.
Maddie Wyman, a senior at Mercedes College, began volunteering at Milpara earlier this year.
During her first session a name leaped out at her from the list of residents – Mavis Waddington.
“Mavis was my grade 2 teacher,” Maddie said.
“I recognised her name right away and when I went to meet her, she recognised me as well which was really sweet.
“I was a big musical theatre kid, and I had a role as an extra in our year 2 play, so I like to say Mavis started my career.
“It was a Grimm’s Fairytale play and I was an extra – I’m pretty sure I only had one line but you have to start somewhere.”
On Monday 26 July, Maddie did a volunteering session and caught up for a coffee with Mavis.
The pair spoke for about 45 minutes about life, including Mavis’ husband Richard who would sketch artwork each term on her classes (very retro) blackboard.
The conversation covered Maddie’s future ambitions to enter medicine, old movies and plays and her memories of her time as Mavis’ student.
Mavis was a teacher her entire working career and calculates she has contributed to the education of almost 1000 South Australians.
ACH Group Volunteer Manager Cate Balfour-Ogilvy said Maddie had initially reached out to volunteer due to a ‘connections’ assignment at school.
“It was kind of amazing that when she started volunteering with us there was already this amazing connection,” Cate said.
“As much as Adelaide is a big capital city it is still at its heart a small town and the stories our volunteers tell of the connections they create, or in this case recreate, are always so wholesome and heartwarming.
“There is so much joy to be given but also so much joy to be had in volunteering and our doors are always open to volunteers.”