Eva retires from advocacy service after 19 years
One of Kintyre’s busiest volunteers, Eva MacDonald, is retiring from Lomond and Argyll Advocacy Service after almost two decades. Colleagues from the service organised a surprise party for her at their Hazelburn Business Park office in Campbeltown on Tuesday to say thank you. The advocacy service offers one-to-one help for people needing assistance to have their voice heard on issues from housing to health and social care. Although the 81-year-old is stepping down from her case work responsibilities, she will still be on its board of directors. ‘I’m slowing down a bit but I’m not stopping my community work. ‘When you get older, you must keep active if you are fit and able to do so. ‘That’s my philosophy in life,’ she said. And Mrs MacDonald added: ‘This is my 19th year with the advocacy service. ‘I came into it right at its beginning. I must have helped hundreds of people over that time. ‘I’ve had a lot of job satisfaction. It must be from my nursing days. ‘Nothing touches me more than a thank you for today.’ Mrs MacDonald’s lifetime of nursing and voluntary services was recognised in 2007 with the presentation of her MBE at Buckingham Palace. After 33 years, she is still a volunteer with Kintyre Crime Prevention Panel and was its chairwoman for 14 of them. In addition, she also has 16 years under her belt so far with Victim Support Scotland and the Court Witness Service. Lomond and Argyll Advocacy Service area co-ordinator for Kintyre Lindsay Giffen added: ‘There are big shoes to fill now that Eva is leaving us. ‘We depend a lot on our volunteers. ‘We’ve got a small team of them but we are always looking for other people to come and join us.’ Do you think you can help? Call 01586 553428 to find out more information or email admin.argyll@laas.org.uk