Meet Eva – Caring for Others for a Lifetime

More than 60 years ago, Eva experienced the incredible kindness of strangers, prompting a lifelong commitment to helping others.  

Eva, who volunteers at our Mayflower gift shop, had only been in Australia for 10 days when, as a passenger, she was involved in a car accident.  

“We ended up upside down,” Eva says.

Whilst Eva doesn’t remember the details of the accident, she does remember those who came to help.

“People were so kind. They came from everywhere, putting blankets on us and bringing us coffee to keep us warm. I thought, one day, I want to do something for others too - and that was the thought that changed my life. I wanted to give back to the country that has been so kind to me.”

Pictured: Eva's name and kind smiling face can be seen everywhere, from a retirement living function to volunteering in our beautiful Mayflower Gift Shop – serving others, and keenly making new friends along the way.

Faith and blessings – a craving for community  

Eva and her husband Joe, who recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary, moved to Australia from Berlin in 1957. Eva met Joe through his mum, who knew they’d make a good couple.

“Joe’s mother used to come to the hairdressing salon where I worked as a hairdresser, and she invited me to his birthday,” says Eva. “He trusted his mother, and we just clicked.”  

The pair married within months.

“It was very quick,” Joe laughs.  

Joe and his family are Jewish, and Judaism became a big part of Eva’s life, too.  

“I didn’t have a religion when we met, and I always wanted to belong to something,” Eva says.

Like other faiths, Judaism encourages serving others, which is a key motivator for Eva and Joe.  

“Part of our religion is giving back to people,” Joe says. “It’s a blessing and a reward to do something for others.”

“We have been volunteering together for more than 60 years,” says Eva.

Joe and Eva – giving back through music

Walking into Eva and Joe’s apartment, you will be greeted by warm smiles and something quite spectacular. A shiny black grand piano, right there, in their living space.

Joe is a professional pianist and recently retired teacher, and the couple used music as a way to give back to others; organising a choir that would sing in aged care homes.

The residents’ response dispelled any doubts Eva had about what they were doing.  

“We were singing in a memory support area, and I thought people weren’t taking much notice… I was standing next to a lady living with the late stages of dementia, who no longer had the ability to talk.  

“Then I looked over and saw her feet tapping, and I thought, ‘Yeah, that's why we're coming!’,” Eva says.

“It was very rewarding to see our music making a difference.”

Eva also started an opportunity shop.

“I started an op shop on behalf of our temple, and worked as a volunteer at Sacred Heart Mission for 10 years,” says Eva,

“Our congregation served meals on Christmas Day and all through January, so the Christian Volunteers could have a break.”

Joe was nominated for Australian of the Year in 2017 for his work in the community.

Supporting the Mayflower Community  

Eva’s thirst for volunteering and community engagement has yet to be quenched, and, Eva loves to connect with others in our community via our Facebook page.

Eva's name and kind smiling face can be seen everywhere, from a retirement living function to volunteering in our beautiful Mayflower Gift Shop – serving others, and keenly making new friends along the way.

Our gift shop is a hub for Mayflower Brighton community members to connect, make new friendships, and find something special to gift to a loved one.

You can learn more about our beautiful gift shop and how you can get involved, by following this link.

Pictured above: Eva and Joe during a special event. Credit: Image supplied.

Pictured above: Eva and Joe on their wedding day. Eva appears as a vision of grace in her beautiful gown.