24 June 2024
Volunteering together comes naturally to Milford’s Keith and Rhonwen Moratti. Keith, aged 78, and Rhonwen, 76, have been married 56 years and have volunteered together at Harbour Hospice’s Milford shop for the past 10 years.
Along with thousands of others, they are being celebrated in National Volunteer Week (16-22 June), and the couple will also be recognised next month at Harbour Hospice’s Long Service Awards. While Keith receives and sorts donations at the Milford shop Rhonwen has had lots of roles, including sorting, stocking shoes and handbags and serving customers.
The couple volunteer together “because we like doing things together”, says Rhonwen. “And because it gives us common ground and things to talk about.”
The parents of three and grandparents of five joined Harbour Hospice’s 1200-strong volunteer force when the charity opened a shop in Milford 10 years ago. Keith says they wanted to “give back” after witnessing the “magnificent” care Keith’s father received when he was cared for by hospice in Taranaki, where the couple grew up. “But it’s also a certain type of person who will volunteer and we wanted to surround ourselves with good, generous people.”
When the couple met Rhonwen was very shy and she believes that volunteering has helped her come out of her shell. Keith concurs, “She has always been very gentle. The first time we met, which was at a dance hall, she was so shy she refused to dance with me.” But Keith knew from the start that Rhonwen was “the one” and pursued her, convincing another boy who lived on Rhonwen’s street to introduce them.
For their first date they attended a 21st birthday party and Keith says he can still remember the dress Rhonwen wore because she looked so gorgeous in it. “It was a pinky-red satin dress and she looked absolutely stunning.” The couple were married two years later.
As well as volunteering together the couple play golf and attend a gym in Milford together. “It’s time together. That’s how you really get to know one another,” Keith says. “We’ll be sitting there having a conversation and one will say to the other, ‘oh I was just about to say that too’. We’re in sync. That’s what makes a happy marriage.”
If you’d like to volunteer for Harbour Hospice like Keith and Rhonwen please email volunteer@harbourhospice.org.nz. Along with retail roles like theirs, others include visiting or driving patients or helping in hospice kitchens or gardens.
This story was first published in the Rangitoto Observer.
