Dedicated to Red Cross for 40 years

Even after four decades of volunteer work at the Red Cross in Whangarei, septuagenarian Maureen Pinnington has no plans to quit. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Septuagenarian Maureen Pinnington's infatuation with the Red Cross began more than four decades ago, when she accompanied her neighbour to sort out clothes at the Whangarei branch of the international humanitarian organisation.

The English-born Whangarei resident was last year rewarded for spending 40 years as a volunteer at the Red Cross' Whangarei branch and joked she would continue until "they could no longer tolerate her".

The 76-year-old spoke candidly about her years as a volunteer, as Red Cross marks its centenary celebrations throughout the country this year.

Its Whangarei branch will celebrate 75 years with open days and displays throughout the year.

Ms Pinnington came to Whangarei in 1964 and worked as a jeweller before her neighbour, who volunteered for the Red Cross, took her to sort out clothes.

The Red Cross shop was then located at the corner of Bank St and Dent St.

"Most services we performed back then, like meals on wheels and library services are now taken over and the challenge now is for younger people to get involved as volunteers.

"It's important to keep Red Cross in front of people so that we can get funding and support in order to help the community and to save lives," she said.

Ms Pinnington was instrumental in starting the Red Cross emergency response unit, in Northland that, looked after people during natural disasters.

Communicating with people and helping them gives her the most satisfaction.

Red Cross Northland community services' manager Nancy Kareroa-Yorke said the organisation was celebrating its Century of Care by highlighting the thousands of volunteers who responded to disasters, helped the elderly, supported refugees, taught first aid and home nursing, provided transport, ran education campaigns and supported aid workers overseas.

A website with an extensive archive of historical photographs, films and Red Cross stories will be launched on March 17.

"We've chosen the whole year to celebrate with displays of old things, like Red Cross uniforms, so people can see the transition we've made over the years. We originally looked after prisoners of war and once that finished, Red Cross did things like meals on wheels and now we're involved with city transport, taking people to and from their medical appointments," Mrs Kareroa-Yorke said.

Red Cross has 400 volunteers and three shops in Northland.