Meet Annie - our Vinnies Shops centenarian

Annie can be found for half a day each fortnight arranging items and pricing donations on the floor of the Vinnies Shop in Corrimal.

As one of more than 5,000 retail volunteers giving of their time in Vinnies Shops across the state, Annie’s contribution to the St Vincent de Paul Society is an inspiration proving that age is no barrier to making an impact.

Beginning as a volunteer in 1976, Annie recently celebrated a huge milestone – turning 100!

Celebrating her centenary alongside volunteers and staff she has come to know closely over nearly five decades of service, Annie has found great pleasure in remaining active through her work as a volunteer.

“I like it very much – I like the company and to do things for the poor,” reflects Annie.

Emigrating to Australia from the Netherlands in 1950 in pursuit of a better life in the aftermath of the Second World War, Annie, accompanied by her husband and young children, initially lived out of a camping ground in Wollongong before moving onto a home in Corrimal, where she has lived ever since.

Despite her rarefied centenarian status as the oldest volunteer in the region, Annie remains committed to arriving on time every second Wednesday to give back to the community that has given her so much.

“I hope that I still can keep going.”