Caption: Rosie (right) with DCP’s Mount Gambier-based volunteer coordinator Viv Sims.

As she marks her retirement, she reflects on the bonds she forged with the children and young people she transported over her years in the role, including one boy she regularly drove between SA and Victoria.

The child was about five years old when Rosie first started driving him, continuing to pick him up and drop him off until he returned to live with his family at about 16.

“One day I was talking to him and he said, Rosie, I’ll never forget what you did for me,” she says.

“I was just overwhelmed. I met his family and still have contact with them.”

Rosie began volunteering after seeing the level of need among vulnerable families through her work as a sheriff’s officer at the Mount Gambier Court House.

Upon her retirement from paid work, Rosie says she felt she “needed to do something” to help, so she connected with the Department for Child Protection.

There are about 195 people in the volunteer service, whose important contributions are being recognised on International Volunteers Day on December 5.

Along with transport, volunteers also support children in areas such as homework, Life Story Book (scrapbook of memories) work, and support at special events.

Anyone interested in volunteering can call 0492 000 743 for more information, or email DCPVolunteerProgram@sa.gov.au.