One of our volunteers shares her experience of calling our members and the benefits of the Families of Veterans Guild Friendship Line service.
What is the Friendship Line?
The Friendship Line is a service that we offer to our members, especially those who live in rural areas or are socially isolated, to provide them with regular phone calls from our volunteers. The aim of the service is to extend a line of friendship and support to our members, and to keep them connected to our organisation and to other war widows.
Meet Fiona, a Friendship Line Volunteer
Fiona is one of our dedicated volunteers who calls 20 of our members every five weeks or so. She became a volunteer on the Friendship Line about five years ago, after her husband, who served in the Vietnam War, passed away. She said volunteering gave her a sense of purpose and a way of giving back to the organisation that welcomed her after her loss.
How the Friendship Line Transcends Generations
One of the members that Fiona calls regularly is Noni, who is 97 years old and lives in far north NSW. Noni’s husband served in World War Two, and she does not attend one of our social groups. She said she loves the Friendship Line and Fiona, and that they talk about everything and nothing, like old friends. They also exchange text messages, often about books they have read or movies they have seen.
Fiona said she enjoys hearing the stories of the members she calls, and learning from their experiences of service life and loving a veteran. She said the Friendship Line is different from other conversations because of the connection to a loved one’s Defence service. She said the Friendship Line transcends generations and creates a bond between war widows of different eras.
How to Join the Friendship Line
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer on the Friendship Line, or if you would like to receive calls from our volunteers, please contact us on (02) 9267 6577 or email programs@fov.org.au. You can also click here to become a volunteer. You can start with a small list of members to call, and you will receive training and support from our staff. Volunteering on the Friendship Line is a rewarding and fun way to make a difference in the lives of our members.
