Mick Wilson from Helping Hands

The grass isn’t always greener

Mick Wilson had been a part of the Helping Hands team for well over a decade before he retired last year. We thought to check in with Mick for this year’s Annual Report. It turns out we didn’t need to look far to find him — he’s back mowing lawns for Helping Hands part-time in his retirement!

Was it always planned that you would return to work after retiring?

I had always planned to work a little bit, as long as it didn’t affect my pension. I am just mowing lawns every now and then at the moment.

How long were you with Helping Hands?

I was with them for 13 years, since August 2002.

How was it working there after all these years?

Well, I used to be in roof-tiling, concreting and all that kind of stuff. I had no formal qualifications, but I learnt a lot on site over the years. But I hurt my elbow, and from then on I couldn’t do any of the heavy lifting anymore. So we moved over here, sold our little 10 acre property (because all the kids had left for Sydney).

This job came up, and because I had a number of restricted licences in roofing, general concreting and carpentry, I applied for it. I even told them that I had a problem with my elbow and they were good enough to employ me still.

In the beginning, it was myself and the two Ian’s who were working. We used to do the taps and the bathroom rails and all that sort of stuff. The three of us used to do all of it before Dean came on the scene, and another builder too.

“It has been a great job, never under any great pressure. Helping Hands has always been great to me. If you ever needed help with anything, they were always great to me. Glenn in the head office has always been great too, even when you interrupt him during the day!”

So, what are you doing now that you have retired, doing your day a week? Are you enjoying the work?

Yes, oh yeah! I’m still fit enough so I do enjoy coming here and talking to the blokes, getting up to the work shed there. I enjoy it.

I’m not gonna say what it is like in a 40 degree day yet, I don’t know. I will see how I go!

What else are you doing in your retirement?

Just trying to find things to do basically. A lot of looking after grandchildren and that sort of stuff. The youngest is going on 2 and a half, and the eldest is 8. We have another one on the way too.

I am also planning on working until next year, next winter, then I am going to think about starting some caravan trips with our caravan. I don’t want to go across Australia pulling a caravan, I just want to stick to the East Coast.

We are sure Mick will find a way back to the Helping Hands shed in no time again, and he will always be welcomed with open arms.