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18 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday May 16, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com New friends find they're a perfect match Nor is it Order of Nurses "I enjoy it. It really gives only friendor VON). me a sense of ship to Macerollo which Dorothy Dunderdale and has the pleas- satisfaction and I enjoy Macerollo Marilyn Allan are the best of ure of seeing Dorothy's company. has opened friends -- and they owe it to l o n g - t e r m , She's good company." the door, matchmaker Jean Macerollo. productive but a helpThe latter is not a dating relationships Marilyn Allan, ing hand. service guru, but may have that she has Acclaim friendly visitor At 71, success in that field should she a r r a n g e d choose to enter it, judging by going on all over town -- Allan, a retired nurse, was lookher track record. numbering more than 100 -- ing for a way to keep busy, get Macerollo co-ordinates vol- and the bond shared by away from the house and stay unteer services for Acclaim Dunderdale and Allan repre- involved in the community. When she approached Health (formerly the Victorian sents just one. Macerollo, the Acclaim employee knew just what to do. She picked up the phone and then visited Dunderdale. Spring Bra Fitting Days The 86-year-old was recovering from a month-long hospiMay 17, 18 tal stay and had just suffered the loss of her sister - her main support in town. She needed support in coming home and she was linked with Acclaim OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF By Angela Blackburn Health. Raised in small town Ontario's Napanee, Dunderdale had herself raised her family in Dorval, Quebec, but after settling into retirement from her career as a librarian, moved to Oakville where she was near her sister. A visit to Dunderdale who lives in the seniors apartments in Bronte Village hints to her storied past. There's a photo of her in her Naval uniform. "I was in coding, that's what they called reading other people's mail," laughed Dunderdale ensconced with Allan on her antique Victorian sofa. It seems far from the frail, elderly, isolated or lonely seniors for whom Macerollo is constantly struggling to find volunteers for friendly visits. "When I think of Marilyn and the things she does for me, BARRIE ERSKINE/ OAKVILLE BEAVER & Make Your Home Comfort More Affordable HITTING IT OFF: Dorothy Dunderdale and Marilyn Allan owe their friendship to Jean Macerollo who co-ordinates volunteer services for Acclaim Health (formerly Victorian Order of Nurses). I can't think of any volunteer who does as much as she does for me," admits Dunderdale who has children with whom she's close -- but not geographically. She also has friends, though those from university are becoming fewer as time passes, but no one close by. Macerollo notes however the story is the same for most of the clients and volunteers. Dunderdale said Allan takes her to myriad medical appointments. "Just recently I was at one and had to wait for an hour. I felt so sorry for Marilyn just sitting there," said Dunderdale, while Allan chips in that it was a great chance to read some magazines. "See what I mean, she never complains," said Dunderdale giving her friend's hand a squeeze. Allan was raised on a farm in Guelph and was living in Toronto when she and her husband settled in Oakville, nearby to her sister in Burlington and away from the bigger city as her son entered high school. After retiring, Allan, who also volunteers at foot care clinics, turned her eye to volunteering. She was aware of the Friendly Visiting program through her work as a nurse, but Macerollo assures volunteers don't need medical training, there are many ranging from students through seniors. All that's required is a few hours weekly to spend with someone, said Macerollo, noting that volunteers are always being sought and the waiting list is at about 40 clients. With each new friendly visiting bond established Macerollo is happy yet knows she then must find a new volunteer to fill the next client's need. Macerollo visits with both client and volunteer separately and then tries to match interests, backgrounds and personalities. Dunderdale and Allan clicked right away. "Both of them have a sense of humour," said Macerollo, noting it's rare that the matches don't hit it off. While Macerollo makes the introductions, the pair are left to themselves to carry on, though they always have the support of Acclaim. Dunderdale will call Allan is she needs her, and if Allan doesn't hear from her, she'll check in. Usually she does so at the start of each week. And if either of the two can't make a meeting, that's okay, too. Nothing is set in stone. Dunderdale and Allan don't just go to medical appointments. They make visits to bookstores, go grocery shopping, even stop for goodies at a local bakery. Volunteers don't have to take clients places, or use a vehicle, unless they choose to. They can simply visit. Dunderdale and Allan do that, too. 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She doesn't use any store bought chemicals or pharmaceuticals. Neither should you for the most part. Stick to the program of ecosystem water gardening and let your pond grow healthy on its own. There is a difference between a chemically dependent pond and one that uses chemicals wisely. Bra-fitting expert from push-up bra to T-shirt bra, cups A-JJ Listen to Voted Platinum Winning Lingerie Store for more 100 Bronte Road, Unit #3, Oakville 905-847-1512 South of Lakeshore Road www.goodnightgoodmorning.com 905-332-3222 www.terragreenhouses.com Burlington Waterdown 905-689-1999 905-876-4000 Milton 905-832-6955 Vaughan 7 DAYS A WEEK! See Friendship page 19