Geok Choo, 60+, was busy mingling with all the seniors at Spottiswood Park’s Christmas Party, but managed to spare some time for a chat! An active contributor to the community, Geok Choo is a member of the Residents’ Committee and a regular volunteer at the nearby Food Bank. It’s testament to her passion that one senior who wanted to remain anonymous said, admiringly, “She is really a good person.” She went on to explain that even though volunteering at the Food Bank was hard work and sometimes physically strenuous, Geok Choo never complained and helped out in any way she could.

Her work on the Residents’ Committee isn’t easy, either. Often, Geok Choo has had to go door-to-door to check up on her neighbours – since there are many seniors living on the estate, she takes her duties very seriously. On one occasion, she knocked on a stranger’s door to give some updates on a community event, but she found the door being slammed in her face when the resident saw her standing there. Thankfully, she says, that was the worst rejection she encountered, but it was still quite a painful moment for her.

When asked how she kept herself from getting discouraged when such setbacks occurred, Geok Choo smiled and said, “You just have to keep moving on.” Valuable advice for all volunteers and activists out there!