Rick Stiebel/B次元官网网址 Gazette staff

A West Shore womanB次元官网网址檚 dedication to lending a helping hand has touched a number of organizations and earned a couple of awards.

Lorraine Collett, a Colwood resident since 1980, recently retired from tending the herb garden she helped establish 13 years ago at the Victoria WomenB次元官网网址檚 Transition House.

B次元官网网址淚 was born with a green thumb,B次元官网网址� said Collett, whose career involved working with people of all ages dealing with a range of issues in different locations around the world. B次元官网网址淚 did a variety of volunteer work at the transition house and noticed the boxes were already there for a herb garden, but they were in poor condition.B次元官网网址�

After suggesting a herb garden would be a good idea, Collett got to work planting an array of herbs that has included Greek oregano, cilantro, tarragon, marjoram, bay leaf, fennel, thyme and several varieties of mint over the years.

It was originally created as a therapeutic program for the women who stay at the transition house and the herbs are used in the kitchen.

Collett said she will always appreciate donations from Slegg Lumber, LynnB次元官网网址檚 Little Elf Garden Centre, Dig This and Home Hardware in getting the garden off the ground. B次元官网网址淚 couldnB次元官网网址檛 have done it without them,B次元官网网址� she noted.

Collett felt the time was right to end her volunteer work at the transition house in order to spend more time on her own garden.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 leaving the herb garden at the transition house in good hands,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 like to think it will last forever.B次元官网网址�

Collett received a Valued Elder Recognition award in 2012 at the age of 60 B次元官网网址� the youngest person to receive that award B次元官网网址� in acknowledgement of the more than 1,000 hours she contributed in a seven-year span at the Victoria WomenB次元官网网址檚 Transition House.

But thatB次元官网网址檚 only one of a garden variety of volunteer positions she has held over the years, including teaching special needs students from John Stubbs elementary how to swim at Centennial Pool.

Although she was a certified swimming instructor when she arrived in Canada from New Zealand, the certification wasnB次元官网网址檛 transferable, so Collett volunteered.

She has also worked at Queen Alexandra Hospital as a volunteer teacherB次元官网网址檚 aide.

Collett has also given her time at several hospitals in the Capital Region since 1989. She has been on the Intermunicipal Advisory Committee on Disability Issues for 20 years, and has been the spokesperson for the accessible transportation advisory committee with BC Transit for the past four years.

She also spent nearly seven years volunteering as a member of ColwoodB次元官网网址檚 heritage committee.

B次元官网网址淚 like to keep busy,B次元官网网址� she explained. B次元官网网址淚 enjoy giving back for what you get. Volunteering is addictive.B次元官网网址�

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com