From psychiatric nurse to costume shop volunteer

After forty years as a psychiatric nurse, you might not expect to find Helen Gibbs behind the counter at a costume shop. But that’s precisely where she spends three days of the week, and she is loving it.

“There is life after retirement,” she smiles before explaining how she sees many people floundering in their retirement, after a busy and stimulating career. The shift work, the constant engagement with people, the problem-solving, and then nothing. She says it’s easy for people like her to check out from life, to disengage.

Mind you, volunteering at Hope Thrift wasn’t exactly part of her plans.

“I retired at the end of 2019 and I was going to go on a big holiday for at least three months — visiting family in Queensland and New South Wales. Six weeks into my trip, covid struck and I had to come home.

“I was going to do all these things and I couldn’t do any of them,” she says.

Back home, people were asking what she would do.

“I said, if I get really bored, I’ll walk into town someday and volunteer at a shop.”

And that’s what she did. Helen liked the look of Hope Thrift in St John Street, so she walked in and offered her time.

“I’ve never worked in a shop before, never worked a cash register, never given people advice on fashion or costumes,” she laughs.

Suddenly she was doing all of that and more. And while volunteering at Hope Thrift is clearly very different to her job as a psychiatric nurse, there is some crossover.

“It’s different every day, which is what I’m used to. My career helped me accept people as they are, and I’m very used to talking to people. You do get all sorts in here and I’ve enjoyed getting to know our regulars.

“It’s also nice to see some of my old clients come through the shop looking well rather than at the hospital when they’re facing their most difficult times.”

Helen encouraged fellow retirees to have a go at volunteering. She said it not only helped her to feel connected to her community, but it gave her a buzz knowing she was making a difference.

Want to volunteer?

Hope Thrift is both a costume shop and a second-hand clothing shop located in St John Street (next door to Koorong), open Monday–Saturday, 10am–4pm. It also has party gear, books, DVDs, CDs, bags, shoes and genuine vintage fashion. All funds raised go to the work of Teen Challenge, helping to create a world free from addiction.

If you’d like to volunteer, please simply drop into the store or email tanya@teenchallengetasmania.org

It may be just a few hours of your time, but the impact on young people’s lives will be immeasurable.

**Please note that all volunteers need a Working with Vulnerable People card and a National Police Clearance.