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continued from p.1 "I would never give up my Thursday morning. That was my one thing. My friends knew you don't call Shirley for coffee because she has to go to the hospital." Walmsley began volunteering at the OTMH Women's Auxiliary, now known as the OHVA, in March 1955 -- five years after the opening of the Reynolds Street hospital. She had just moved to Oakville from Port Credit, Ont. Her late husband, Dr. Doug Walmsley, was a well-known local family physician and 12-year hospital volunteer. "My husband was a medical doctor at the hospital. I heard that OTMH was having volunteers and I thought I would like to do something. This is where I started," said Walmsley. When she first joined OTMH as a volunteer, the hospital was smaller in size and had no parking garage, Walmsley said, noting it was busy inside, but "nothing like now." In 1975, the Oakville woman became the convenor of the Central Service Supply Room (CSSR), began volunteering at the snack bar every Tuesday and assisted with the Women's Auxiliary's annual meetings and open-house tours. "We did bandages, had to rip brown paper, make parcels and then all of the boxes of things were sent downstairs to be sterilized. They would go to patient rooms. I didn't do patient contact because my husband was a doctor," said Walmsley. When the central supply volunteer service Shirley Walmsley has been at OTMH for 60 years over the years and raised more than $45,000 towards new hospital equipment and renovations. "We had a wonderful relationship. We would try and get out for lunch or have lunch here together. It was a social morning, as well as doing work," said Walmsley. "Even when I was quilting, if one of the girls needed something, they knew I didn't mind doing that." Although the club disbanded in 2014, Walmsley continues to volunteer at OTMH on a weekly basis, working behind-the-scenes with odd jobs and assisting with raffle and chiropody shoe sales. "Shirley is an integral part of the fabric and culture of the OHVA and its hospital. Her volunteer spirit and optimism inspires others both young and old to help out," said Carole Daniels, Halton Healthcare Services (HHS) volunteer services manager. "We are moved by her energy, encouraged by her actions and motivated by her willingness to share her story and strive to find new ways to give to her community." In 1996, the Hospital Auxiliaries Association of Ontario (HAAO) presented Walmsley with the lifetime membership pin. see OHVA on p.14 3 | Thursday, June 11, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Shirley Walmsley, 87, is recognized for the first ever 60 years of volunteering by HHS Board Member John Fleming during the Oakville Hospital Volunteers Association AGM at Le Dome Banquet Hall last Thursday afternoon. | photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) was eliminated three years later, Walmsley and others formed a quilting group, to sell handmade quilts and raise money for the hospital. "We were in this CSSR until the hospital decided to buy pre-packaged bandages. Someone in our group came up with the idea that maybe we should take up quilting and raise money," said Walmsley. "We made a very plain patchwork quilt the first time and then went to the malls and sold tickets and made money. This was one of our jobs." The group of eight made more than 60 quilts You get just one funeral. Make it the one you want. You are unique. Your life is unlike any other. By pre-planning your final arrangements now, you can choose the options that reflect how you want to be remembered. What's more, you can save thousands of dollars and protect family from uncertainty about your wishes. Take the first step: Ask us about your FREE Planning Kit! 905-257-1100 Look for us on Facebook glenoaks.ca Glen Oaks Funeral Home & Cemetery by Arbor Memorial Arbor Memorial Inc. Plannin g Kit! Family Owned. Proudly Canadian. FREE 3164 Ninth Line (403 & Dundas St.), Miss./Oakville, ON