For many New Zealanders, the thought of retirement is a welcome one. But Frieda Alley asks, "Retirement? What's that?"
In 1997, at the age of 65 when most people are putting their feet up, Mrs Alley decided that the quiet life was not for her and joined the
Frankton community police as a volunteer.
When the station closed 2 1/2 years later, she volunteered her services to the Te Rapa police as a "nightowl patrol-woman", driving around and letting officers know of any suspicious activity.
Mrs Alley has now given up her crime-fighting career to become a telephone receptionist at the station.
However, she hasn't been limiting herself to upholding law and order. For 5 1/2 years, she also did voluntary work at the Sunningdale RSA in Hamilton, before a foot injury forced her to give that work up.
Not content to take things easy, she then volunteered to work at Hamilton's IHC centre, and is still there.
Sister-in-law Heather Alley says the family have encouraged her to quit working and take it easy.
But Frieda Alley refuses to. "It keeps me motivated and I like to think I can still use my brain. I like people and I like helping out."
Constable Craig Berquist is certainly grateful for Mrs Alley's ongoing work.
"Frieda is very enthusiastic and reliable," he said. "I'm the only constable at the station and without volunteers such as Frieda I'd be buggered."
Mrs Alley is due to start a new voluntary role today tutoring students at Whitiora Primary School.
