Theresa Micallef has been the first face to greet visitors at hospitals across Hume for over 40 years. She spoke to Courtney Black about her connection to the community and how she gives back.
What’s your connection to Hume?
I live in Bulla. My service combined for both Greenvale Hospital and Broadmeadows Hospital is roughly 48 years. I worked at Greenvale Geriatric Hospital on the wards attending to patients daily, before being asked to work in administration which I was experienced in. When we shifted to Broadmeadows Hospital I applied for the front reception desk because I wanted to interact more with patients and visitors. For the past few years I have only worked a few hours a week to prepare for when I do have to retire.
What do you like about where you live and work?
I am passionate about my work at the hospital and the little things like people turning around and saying ‘that was good of you’, and I go home thinking ‘great, I’ve helped someone today’. My colleagues are also great people to work with. I volunteer every Monday which I absolutely love, that is my passion. It is like paying it forward. I would like to do another day of volunteering in Sunbury in the near future.
What, if anything, would you change about where you live?
Living in Bulla, we are not too happy about (Melbourne airport’s proposed third) runway. There is nothing we can do about it, but it is 800 metres away from my house. They are widening the road, there’s traffic already and trucks coming in and out but it’s part of the progress. It is no use saying ‘what did you build there for?’. We’ve been here 38 years, that was only a dream then. A few people have sold their house but we are going to take it day by day.
Where is your favourite local place to spend time?
I often catch up for coffee with my girlfriends or daughter at Broadmeadows Shopping Centre which is only across from work. I go to Gladstone Park Shopping Centre every day because it’s small so you are in and out. Every Saturday I watch my grandson play basketball, I’ll watch my other grandson play football on Sundays and I go to all my granddaughter’s dancing competitions.
Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you.
I like to keep busy, I hate people saying ‘relax’. I enjoy anything that keeps my mind occupied, like gardening and cooking. Sunday is cooking day. I’ll prepare meals for two to three days. I am very organised, my mind is going all the time and I am always on the go.
