JANNALI Neighbour Aid is turning 50 and a group of long-term volunteers met recently to relive happy memories.
The group was formed after members of the Jannali Methodist Church, now the Uniting Church, reached out to people who needed some extra help.
Originally called Nightingales, the volunteers often helped new mums struggling with raising twins or triplets.
Sigrid Hall, the organisation's community programs co-ordinator, said the service wouldn't function without volunteers.
She said the idea behind neighbour aid groups was to keep people independent in their own homes for as long as possible.
At the beginning it was more a case of what volunteers didn't do, rather than what they did, said Bev Rendell.
"Transport, cleaning, gardening — there was no home care," Mrs Rendell said.
Along with June Skiller, Mrs Rendell was one of the first to put up her hand to help the fledging group 50 years ago.
There are now about 60 volunteers but they would welcome more people with a few hours to spare and possibly a car.
There will be a festival to celebrate the group's 50th anniversary on Sunday, May 17 from 10am to 5pm in the car park behind Jannali IGA.
Details: 9528 6299.
