Volunteer role sees Gary ‘Mac’ Macdonald kicking goals
If you’re wondering which team will win the 2025 NRL premiership, just ask Anglican Care volunteer Gary ‘Mac’ Macdonald.
The retired Activities Coordinator is fortunate enough to know the answer, and he’s not shy about sharing it.
“The mighty [Brisbane] Broncos, pride of the north,” he says.
Whether or not he believes that statement is irrelevant. What matters most is that by saying it aloud it forms part of the banter that has become CA Brown’s regular ‘Men’s Group’.
Held in the Activities Room on Level One, the weekly gathering is a popular feature during the national rugby league competition.
It is here that Mac is joined by a dozen arm-chair experts who regularly rely on an interesting array of techniques to determine the wins and losses for the upcoming weekend round.
For an hour the group talks all things football while sharing a drink of beer or soft drink, and enjoying a sausage roll with sauce, or a packet of potato chips.
While each attendee has their turn at predicting the winner of each game, the friendly banter gains momentum.
And there at the heart of the chiacking is Mac.
A whizz at general knowledge, in particular ‘old-school’ topics, Mac has been volunteering at CA Brown for the past five years.
He was employed as an Activities Officer at Anglican Care’s Carey Bay facility for a decade before retiring when it closed its doors.
If you quiz Mac on the key to volunteering, for him it is all about bringing the laughs, which is, in his opinion, the best way to stay young.
“Look, I see it as my job to make the residents laugh,” he says.
“It’s something that’s good at any age, but especially this age.
“Whether they’re laughing with me or at me is another thing. But the way I see it, if they’ve had pleasure in my company than I’m happy.”
Mac is one of 50 Anglican Care volunteers regularly bringing the smiles to residents within aged care. If you would like to volunteer with Anglican Care, or any of the Newcastle Anglican service agencies, please go to our website.
