Feature Profiles
10 January, 2026
SUMMER READING Tales of inspiration
Caring attitude sees Faye honoured with volunteer award
By CHRIS EARL
GROWING up in Melbourne in the years after World War Two, Faye Orange witnessed returned soldiers wandering the streets, sitting in gutters.
“They were lost and felt they didn’t belong any more ... life was not the same for them,” she recalls of the time when her mother baked and made blankets that were then distributed by her father.
“At the time I didn’t really realise what mum and dad were doing around Yarraville, but it always struck in my mind.”
They were soldiers back from the war with what today is known as post-traumatic stress disorder. Faye would help her parents make Sunday deliveries around the streets of Yarraville of comforts and support to the ex-diggers.
Her father had been a truck driver on the home front during World War Two and later owned a transport business, his truck the vehicle to distribute blankets and baking.
That inspiration to help other people has guided Faye throughout life. Now 80 and admitting she still avoids idle moments, Faye has spent the past 20 years supporting the Inglewood community.
“I came here in 2004 and made a lot of friends and haven’t wanted to leave,” she said after being presented with the annual Kooyoora Women’s Network volunteer of the year award at the group’s International Women’s Day dinner last week.
“We started foodbank in the old neighbourhood house in Brooke Street, then were homeless ourselves and operated on the lawns outside the town hall, had a base for a while in the hall and then at the senior citizens’ clubrooms where we still operate.
“We then decided there were not enough meals for some people, particularly older people - there were the senior citizens’ lunches once a fortnight. So we started the community meals that means people can now have a solid meal once a week.
“That saw the meal coming under the umbrella of the Lions club ... we help each other.
“And the (ambulance auxiliary op-shop ... have been doing that for the last 15 years or so. I love the op-shop ... I’m a people person, love meeting people, hearing their stories and stories from people of all ages.”
But Faye was quick and constant in talking about the “we” when it came to her contributions in the community.
“The certificate may have my name on it but there’s a group of people behind me in everything that happens and they are all volunteers,” she said.
Volunteering remains a full-time pursuit for Faye. On Monday, a public holiday for many, Faye and fellow volunteers had a trip to Bendigo to replenish supplies for the local foodbank.
For many years, Faye was a foster parent, taking in more than 100 children who needed emergency accommodation - youngsters at risk in family violence environments. “They needed emergency short-stays. They are now adults but some of those people still stay in contact,” said Faye who was part of what is now the Anglicare foster program and provided support to children who stayed in her home both in Melbourne and Inglewood.
Faye says that volunteering has been “with me my whole life”.
“It’s nothing new. I do it because it helps other people and also helps bring happiness,” she said.
“I am 80 now and you can’t keep going forever so I am hoping there are other people who will look to also helping in the community ... the more the merrier I say.
“I’m still busy but it would be great to see more people involved.
“And if I’m not doing things, there are people calling me to talk about what is happening.”
Faye’s energy in 2025 is close to the levels she may have exuded as a go-go dancer in her teens or still projects at monthly karaoke sessions in Inglewood.
Her commitment to helping in the community continues and as Faye said: “I got it from mum and dad”.
Last week’s Kooyoora Women’s Network dinner featured guest speaker Kate Mannix, chief executive office of a major Bendigo accounting firm.
She spoke on her corporate and community experiences.
Read More: Inglewood