Soon after her family arrived in Townsville in the 1960s, Barbara Bricker found herself volunteering at the local Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC).

“My husband was always working long hours at The Mater Hospital and my girls were doing athletics and gymnastics at the PCYC, so I would fill my time by volunteering there,” Barbara said.

“I used to go and help them in the office because they couldn’t keep people there. They kept wanting to employ me but I kept saying, ‘I haven’t got a resume’.

“They talked me into applying, and I finished up after 25 years there. I made good friends who I worked with, and we had a good time.

“I used to do the functions including weddings. I loved that. If we had a function we did the hard work –pull all the tables down, clean up – then sit down with our feet up and have a glass of wine at two o’clock in the morning.”

In recognition of her service to the organisation, the Carinity Fairfield Grange resident was awarded life membership of PCYC Townsville and had a section of the facility – the Barbara Bricker Function Room – named after her.

“I was both proud and shocked because I’m not one who likes to be out front; I like to stay in the background. I gave 100% – and I loved every bit of it,” Barbara said.

Barbara, who has 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, also volunteered for community organisations such as Meals on Wheels.