Peter’s Story: Over 20 Years Of Giving Back
A story of volunteering, connection and giving back.
For more than 20 years, Peter Krinks has been turning up for his community, becoming a familiar face at Crows Nest Centre. This National Meals on Wheels Day, we’re taking a moment to celebrate Peter and the many volunteers who show how a simple meal delivery can mean so much more than food.
After retiring in the early 1990s, Peter was encouraged by his wife to begin volunteering with Meals on Wheels. He initially joined as her runner, but more than two decades later, he’s still delivering meals to people in his local area.
What has kept Peter coming back for more than 20 years is his strong sense of responsibility to his community.
“Coming from a working class family in England, I had this incredible privilege of travelling around the world at other people’s expense”, he says. “It was time to give something back.”
Peter’s desire to understand people and communities has also shaped much of his life. He earned a PhD studying peasant migration in Mindanao in the Philippines and, before that, travelled around the world with fellow graduates from Bristol University, documenting people’s lived experiences through film and photography in countries such as India and South America. From 1963 – 1964, he worked in a Papuan village, moving to Australia in 1965.
Today, Peter is a one-man Meals on Wheels team, driving and delivering meals himself once a week. To Peter, his role as a volunteer is integral to his routine, “It’s one of the things to sort of set the week,” he says.
“Sometimes you’re able to help somebody, and that’s always a good feeling”, he shares.
On National Meals on Wheels Day, Peter’s story is a reminder of the volunteers behind every delivery who give their time, build connections, and make a difference in the lives of others. In 2023, Peter was recognised with a certificate celebrating 20 years as a volunteer, a milestone he remembers fondly. For Peter, however, volunteering isn’t about recognition.
“I like to let people know, not for showing off but just to try to be a sort of example to let people know that one can do it, and get pleasure from it,” he says.
Peter’s 20+ years of volunteering is a reminder that giving a little of your time can make a big difference to someone else’s day, and it’s something anyone can try.
If you’re looking for ways to contribute and get involved, there are many volunteering opportunities at Crows Nest Centre. Discover more here or call our Volunteer Coordinator on 9439 5122.