He retired from Mater Private Hospital Mackay in 2008, but former registered nurse Paul Lanigan has continued his career of caring for people.

This year, Mr Lanigan clocked up a decade of volunteering at the Mater in Mackay, the same hospital where he worked as a midwife and manager of the operating theatres.

Mr Lanigan said helping others came as second nature to him, and during National Volunteers Week (16-22 May), he encouraged other retirees to follow in his footsteps.

“My career with the Mater started in 1979, and I worked my way up to be in charge of the operating theatre,” he said.

“These days, I enjoy volunteering once a week in the office where I can continue to contribute to the running of the hospital in my own little way.”

Mater Private Hospital Mackay Executive Officer Beth Thomas said Mr Lanigan was one of more than 60 volunteers who worked at the hospital.

“Everyone at Mater plays a role to our patients’ care experience, but it takes a special type of person to selflessly volunteer their time, energy and passion to help others,” Ms Thomas said.

“Throughout the year, our volunteers sacrifice hundreds of hours of their own time to fulfil a range of roles in clinical services, pastoral care and fundraising to ensure Mater continues to deliver the very best care to people when they need it most.

“In National Volunteers Week, we say thank you to those special staff members who, through their personal contributions, make Mater Private Hospital Mackay a better place to visit and work every day.”

Ms Thomas said Mater Private Hospital Mackay expected to recruit six new volunteers this month.

Mr Lanigan encouraged others to give it a go.

“Everyone has different reasons for trying their hand at volunteering,” he said.

“But we all get the same fulfillment and sense of appreciation from doing it.”